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Synonyms

sooner

1 American  
[soo-ner] / ˈsu nər /

adverb

  1. the comparative form of soon.

  2. within a shorter period.

    That day will come sooner than you think.

  3. earlier.

    I just wish I'd done it sooner.

  4. in preference to something else; more willingly or readily; rather.

    We might sooner trust the wind than trust our own frail resolutions.

  5. more likely or easily.

    It's a color you might sooner expect to find on a Lamborghini than on a BMW.

idioms

  1. sooner or later, eventually.

    Sooner or later his luck will run out.

  2. would sooner, to prefer to; to prefer that.

    I would sooner not go to their party.

    I'd sooner you did the recording, as you're better at it than I am.
sooner 2 American  
[soo-ner] / ˈsu nər /

noun

  1. a person who settles on government land before it is legally opened to settlers in order to gain the choice of location.

  2. a person who gains an unfair advantage by getting ahead of others.

Sooner 3 American  
[soo-ner] / ˈsu nər /

noun

  1. a native or inhabitant of Oklahoma the Sooner State (used as a nickname).

sooner British  
/ ˈsuːnə /

adverb

  1. the comparative of soon

    he came sooner than I thought

  2. rather; in preference

    I'd sooner die than give up

  3. immediately after or when

    no sooner had he got home than the rain stopped

    no sooner said than done

  4. eventually; inevitably

"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

Usage

What else does Sooner mean? A Sooner is a person who lives in the state of Oklahoma. It is also a nickname for students and athletes at the University of Oklahoma.

Etymology

Origin of sooner1

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English soner(e), sonor(e), sonre; soon ( def. ) + -er 5 ( def. )

Origin of sooner2

An Americanism dating back to 1885–90; soon + -er 1

Explanation

The adverb sooner means "more promptly" or "earlier." If you miss your bus, you'll regret not waking up sooner! When you're little, it feels like you'll never grow up, but that day comes sooner than you think. This meaning comes from soon and its Old English root, which means "immediately." In the U.S., Oklahomans are known as Sooners, a nickname that arose after settlers snuck onto and claimed land in Indian Territory sooner than they were legally allowed. Another meaning of sooner is "rather," as in "I'd sooner have a cat than a dog."

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

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.

It says it can bring more power to companies much sooner than others, in days or weeks, rather than waiting years for utilities to upgrade local substation and expand capacity.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2026

The listing is the latest example that AI-trained humanoid robots are coming sooner than investors might expect.

From Barron's • Apr. 15, 2026

Magyar has suggested that he could become prime minister on 5 May, or even sooner.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

Funds typically last 10 to 12 years, while the loans they hold mature sooner.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 13, 2026

No sooner had we finished than Luc arrived again, carrying pieces of paper that he passed out to Mae and me.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse

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.