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Synonyms

soon

American  
[soon] / sun /

adverb

sooner, soonest

  1. within a short period after this or that time, event, etc..

    We shall know soon after he calls.

  2. before long; in the near future; at an early date.

    Let's leave soon.

  3. promptly or quickly.

    He came as soon as he could.

  4. readily or willingly.

    I would as soon walk as ride.

  5. early in a period of time; before the time specified is much advanced.

    soon at night; soon in the evening.

  6. Obsolete. immediately; at once; forthwith.

soon British  
/ suːn /

adverb

  1. in or after a short time; in a little while; before long

    the doctor will soon be here

  2. at the very moment that

    she burst into tears as soon as she saw him

  3. used to indicate that the second alternative mentioned is not preferable to the first

    I'd just as soon go by train as drive
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
soon Idioms  

  1. see as soon as; fool and his money are soon parted; had rather (sooner); just as soon; no sooner said than done; speak too soon.

Etymology

Origin of soon

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English sōna; cognate with Old High German sān, Gothic suns

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

All were planning to return as soon as they could to a country most had not seen since leaving decades earlier.

From Los Angeles Times

In the commercial hub of Tel Aviv, Orit Baisa, 42, rushed to an underground car park as soon as he heard the air raid sirens warning of an incoming missile barrage.

From Barron's

Developments in the region are sure to impact oil prices as soon as trading resumes late Sunday and into early Monday.

From MarketWatch

The victim's mother said: "I know these things are scary but the sooner you speak out the quicker police can get the person and hopefully, in time, give closure."

From BBC

Despite a deal with Charlton being "basically done", according to the ex-Hammers forward, he was soon persuaded to make the switch.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.