in the long run
Over extended time
In the long run means over an extended period, when all effects have played out: The investment lost money at first but paid off in the long run.
The phrase implies that short-term results may differ from eventual outcomes.
It contrasts with in the short run, which focuses on immediate consequences.
- eventuallyAt a later time
- in due courseWhen appropriately expected
- sooner or laterAt an unspecified future time
- futureTime still to come
- finishBring to completion
fruition · consequence · cumulative · legacy · strategy · payoff · sustainability · perspective · looking ahead · causality · afterward · inevitability · result · trajectory · culmination · foresight · delayed gratification · slow burn
- futureforthcoming, upcoming, coming, impending, imminent
in the long runin the short run
For a brief period
immediately · right now · short-term · at present · for now
in the long runon the surface
In apparent aspect only
at first glance · initially · at first · superficially · on the face of it
long, lengthy, prolong, elongate, longevity, longness, long run, long-running