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Glite Dictionary
long term

long term

247 3.0
A time that continues far into the future
  • noun
  • /lɔŋ tɜrm/
translation icon : largo plazo
  • So remind yourself of your long term goals, of your plans.
  • long-term care
  • long-term effects
  • long-term consequences

Trust is you recognize long term is what matters, not short term.

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Examples

  • But this is a long term plan.

    House of Gucci (2021)

  • Sustainable practices provide a long-term solution and a higher quality of life.

    Academic text (2008)

  • So it's it's actually the long term goal is quite simple.

  • But do you think that they are looking for a long term connection?

  • Have you been in a lot of long term relationships?

    Paula & Jeff (2018)

  • We need to look beyond immediate gain and consider the long term results of this project.

    Where Hearts Lie (2016)

  • These are really basic, affordable things that often actually make farmers more money in the long term.

    Takeout (2020)

  • Children who are poorly managed over the long term may be unable to attend school or develop normally.

    Academic text (1990)

  • As the population ages, the demand on attorneys to handle issues relating to long-term care of individuals will grow.

    Academic text (1999)

  • We need to look beyond immediate gain and consider the long term results of this project.

Synonyms

long time
vslong term
∞ 1.0

A period lasting many days or years

is specifically about time extending far into the future
a long time
vslong term
∞ 1.0

A period that lasts much longer than usual

is about duration that extends well into the future rather than immediate
long run
vslong term
205 3.2

A long time when you see the final result of actions

is about future length itself, not focused on results or outcome
long haul
vslong term
  • Informal
41 4.9

A long difficult time that needs steady effort and patience

refers to duration without implying difficulty or required effort

Antonyms

short-term
225 3.3

Lasting only for a little time

How Long

permanent
650 3.2
extended
11 4.0
long term
247 3.0
short-term
225 3.3

Surface Forms

long term singular
long terms plural

Morphology

long + term

The meaning 'a period of time that is not short' is directly and compositionally derived from 'long' (of great duration) + 'term' (period), following a standard adjective + noun pattern. This construction is cross-linguistically common and predictable, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

The phrase long term joins long and term to give a simple picture: imagine a very long road or a tree you plant now that only grows after many years. That's why long term means 'a time that is not short' or 'far in the future'.