sooner

¹

[ soo-ner ]

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.

sooner

²

[ soo-ner ]

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

[ soo-ner ]

noun

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

sooner

/ 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. no sooner…than
   immediately after or when

   no sooner said than done

   no sooner had he got home than the rain stopped

4. sooner or later
   eventually; inevitably

Usage

When is sometimes used instead of than after no sooner, but this use is generally regarded as incorrect: no sooner had he arrived than (not when ) the telephone rang

Word History and Origins

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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. sooner or later, eventually:

   Sooner or later his luck will run out.

2. would sooner, to prefer to; to prefer that: Compare rather ( def 9 ).

   I would sooner not go to their party.

   I'd sooner you did the recording, as you're better at it than I am.

Example Sentences

The Bibles are part of Walters’ mission to make religious education a mainstay in the Sooner State.

From Salon

Sooner or later, if this continues, they will fall over the cliff.

From BBC

Sooner rather than later, Kamala Harris is going to have to directly and forcefully respond to Trump’s racist, sexist and other vile attacks on her personhood.

From Salon

Oklahoma: Freshman quarterback Jackson Arnold is a major talent, but we wonder if the Sooners are properly equipped to deal with the weekly grind in the SEC.

From Seattle Times

With Brady, who had reached base in 16 consecutive games batting, the Sooners called time out.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• earlier