soon S1 W1 /suːn/ BrE AmE adverb ( comparative sooner , superlative soonest )
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: sona 'immediately' ]
1 . in a short time from now, or a short time after something else happens:
It will be dark soon.
David arrived sooner than I expected.
soon after
Paula became pregnant soon after they were married.
‘Who?’ ‘You’ll find out soon enough (=fairly soon) .’
2 . quickly:
How soon can you finish the report?
Try and get the car fixed as soon as possible.
3 . as soon as immediately after something happens, without delay:
As soon as she entered the room, she knew there was something wrong.
I’ll come over to your place as soon as I can.
4 . the sooner ( ... ) the better used to say that it is important that something should happen very soon:
The sooner we get this job finished the better.
Let’s get out of here! The sooner the better!
5 . the sooner ... the sooner used to say that you want something to happen soon, so that something else can then happen:
The sooner I get this work done, the sooner I can go home.
6 . no sooner had/did ... than used to say that something happened almost immediately after something else:
No sooner had he sat down than the phone rang.
7 . sooner or later used to say that something is certain to happen at some time in the future, though you cannot be sure exactly when:
His wife’s bound to find out sooner or later.
8 . too soon too early
too soon to do something
It’s still too soon to say whether the operation was a success.
The holidays were over all too soon (=much earlier than you would like) .
9 . no sooner said than done used to say that you will do something immediately
10 . not a moment too soon/none too soon almost too late:
‘The doctor’s here!’ ‘And not a moment too soon!’
11 . somebody would sooner do something (than) if you would sooner do something, you would much prefer to do it, especially instead of something that seems unpleasant:
I’d sooner die than marry you!
12 . somebody would (just) as soon formal used to say that someone would prefer to do something or would prefer something to happen:
I’d just as soon you didn’t drive the car while I’m gone.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ soon in a short time from now, or a short time after something else happens:
See you soon!
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It seemed difficult at first, but I soon got used to it.
▪ in the near future in the next few weeks or months. In the near future is more formal than soon :
The book will be on sale in the near future.
▪ in no time (at all) very soon – used to talk about something good happening:
You’ll be feeling better in no time at all.
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In no time at all, her son was starting to speak Japanese.
▪ in a minute spoken used to say that you will do something or something will happen within a few minutes:
I’ll be ready in a minute.
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The film’s going to start in a minute.
▪ any minute now spoken used to say that something will or may happen very soon, but you do not know exactly when:
They should be here any minute now.
▪ any day now spoken used to say that something will or may happen in the next few days, but you do not know exactly when:
I’m hoping to hear from her any day now.
▪ shortly formal a short time from now:
They will be with us shortly.
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the new laws that will shortly be coming into effect
▪ before long especially literary soon – used especially when something happens which you expected to happen:
They got married, and before long Anna was expecting a baby.
▪ it will not be long used when saying that something will happen soon:
It won’t be long before everything is back to normal.
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I knew that it wouldn’t be long before the same thing happened again.