soon

[ soon ]

adverb

, soon·er, soon·est.

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

/ suːn /

adverb

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

   the doctor will soon be here

2. as soon as
   at the very moment that

   she burst into tears as soon as she saw him

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

   I'd just as soon go by train as drive

Word History and Origins

Origin of soon¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of soon¹

Old English sōna; related to Old High German sāno, Gothic suns

Idioms and Phrases

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 .

Example Sentences

You don’t want to give that up too soon.

From Los Angeles Times

Brower himself soon resigned from the Sierra Club board in protest over what he saw as its refusal to consider immigration’s effect on population growth.

From Salon

“Soon the replacement of the whites within Texas will hit its apogee.”

From Salon

Steele appeared on “Greater Bakersfield” soon after.

From Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles will soon begin building a $740-million project to transform wastewater into purified drinking water in the San Fernando Valley, expanding the city’s local water supply in an effort to prepare for worsening droughts compounded by climate change.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• directly
• early
• instantly
• promptly
• quickly
• rapidly
• shortly
• speedily