the short term
noun
: a short period of time at the beginning of something
It will meet our needs, at least for the short term.
His plan has advantages over the short term.
—usually used in the phrase in the short termIt won't make any difference in the short term.
These changes may improve profits in the short term, but they are going to cost us money in the long term.
Examples of the short term in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
With Bader and Oliva both on the shelf, Gilbert stands to get the majority of playing time in center field in the short term.
—
Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2026
That’s a chunk of work that needs to get done in the short term.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 14 Apr. 2026
However, the exemption process suggests that vendors can continue sourcing new products from outside the country in the short term, so long as the US doesn’t deem any of them a security threat.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 14 Apr. 2026
In the short term, an atmospheric disturbance moving from northern Mexico will bring the best rain chances of the week to Central Texas on Friday.
—Newsroom Meteorologist, Austin American Statesman, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the short term
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Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2026
That’s a chunk of work that needs to get done in the short term.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 14 Apr. 2026
However, the exemption process suggests that vendors can continue sourcing new products from outside the country in the short term, so long as the US doesn’t deem any of them a security threat.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 14 Apr. 2026
In the short term, an atmospheric disturbance moving from northern Mexico will bring the best rain chances of the week to Central Texas on Friday.
—Newsroom Meteorologist, Austin American Statesman, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the short term
Cite this Entry
“The short term.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20short%20term. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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