take the long view

verb

To evaluate something in terms of its expected long-term results rather than its immediate state.

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Meanings

verbtake the long view (third-person singular simple present takes the long view, present participle taking the long view, simple past took the long view, past participle taken the long view)

present singular third person takes the long view · participle present taking the long view · past took the long view · participle past taken the long view

  1. To evaluate something in terms of its expected long-term results rather than its immediate state.

    To determine the proper course, Americans must take the long view.

    1992, Richard Nixon, “The Pacific Triangle”, in Seize the Moment, Simon & Schuster, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 170

Origin

From long view.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish ajatella kauaskantoisesti
  • ajatella kauaskantoisestiTranslations
Polish myśleć długoterminowo
  • myśleć długoterminowoTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

take the long view. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/take%20the%20long%20view

MLA

“take the long view.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/take%20the%20long%20view. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “take the long view,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/take%20the%20long%20view.

Source: take the long view on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.