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
But Powell, like Wall Street economists, has said that Trump's moves to raise tariffs - including a new 145% tax rate on most Chinese imports - could push inflation higher at least in the short term, and possibly for longer.
—
Jason Lange, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2025
That might work in the short term, but that toy is not likely to win rave reviews and repeat customers for years.
—Ryan McFarland, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
Inflation is also likely to be lower in the short term, Knot added — but said this was far less clear in the medium term.
—Jenni Reid, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2025
Fairbanks-College, AK Even in the short term, exposure to particle pollution can cause breathing problems or trigger a heart attack.
—Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the short term
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Jason Lange, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2025
That might work in the short term, but that toy is not likely to win rave reviews and repeat customers for years.
—Ryan McFarland, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
Inflation is also likely to be lower in the short term, Knot added — but said this was far less clear in the medium term.
—Jenni Reid, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2025
Fairbanks-College, AK Even in the short term, exposure to particle pollution can cause breathing problems or trigger a heart attack.
—Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2025
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 28 Apr. 2025.
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