the long run

noun

: a long period of time after the beginning of something
investing for the long run
Your solution may cause more problems over the long run.
It may be our best option in the long run.
This deal will cost you more in the long run.

Examples of the long run in a Sentence

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In the long run, Diane Swonk, chief economist at consultancy KPMG, said interest rate hikes can benefit consumers by getting inflation under control. — Alex Harring, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2026 One estimate, from Stanford economists with the Hoover Institution, a right-leaning think-tank, found that the tax will end up costing the state $25 billion in the long run as billionaires flee. — Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 12 Oct. 2026 Sometimes failure can be a good thing in the long run, strangely. — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 8 Oct. 2026 Sometimes, spending your money on a more versatile, practical, or travel-friendly alternative can serve you much better in the long run. — Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 5 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for the long run

Rhymes for the long run

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Browse Nearby Words

the long jump
the long run
the long term
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Cite this Entry

“The long run.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20long%20run. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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