the long term
noun
: a long period of time after the beginning of something
She is investing for the long term.
I think it's the better choice over the long term.
an investment that should do well in the long term
These changes may improve profits now, but they are going to cost us money in the long term.
Examples of the long term in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
How Espanyol does under U.S. guidance in the long term is what matters.
—
Henry Flynn, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
In the long term, a severe debt or, more likely, an inflationary spiral could send the economy into a lost decade, drastically weakening the dollar’s position as the dominant global currency and undermining American power.
—Kenneth S. Rogoff, Foreign Affairs, 19 Aug. 2025
Whether the reporting service can be maintained in the long term under a voluntary funding model is unclear.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 19 Aug. 2025
But in the long term, evidence is mounting that the shift away from gut-busting hero workouts and towards what used to be called LSD—that’s long, slow distance—is a smart one.
—Alex Hutchinson, Outside, 18 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the long term
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Henry Flynn, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
In the long term, a severe debt or, more likely, an inflationary spiral could send the economy into a lost decade, drastically weakening the dollar’s position as the dominant global currency and undermining American power.
—Kenneth S. Rogoff, Foreign Affairs, 19 Aug. 2025
Whether the reporting service can be maintained in the long term under a voluntary funding model is unclear.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 19 Aug. 2025
But in the long term, evidence is mounting that the shift away from gut-busting hero workouts and towards what used to be called LSD—that’s long, slow distance—is a smart one.
—Alex Hutchinson, Outside, 18 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the long term
Cite this Entry
“The long term.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20long%20term. Accessed 27 Aug. 2025.
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