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soon

[soon]

–adverb, -er, -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.

—Idioms

7.	sooner or later, eventually: Sooner or later his luck will run out.

8.	would sooner, to prefer to: I would sooner not go to their party. Compare rather (def. 8).

Origin:
bef. 900; ME; OE sōna; c. OHG sān, Goth suns

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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soon (sōōn)

adv. soon·er, soon·est

In the near future; shortly.
Without hesitation; promptly: came as soon as possible.
Before the usual or appointed time; early.
With willingness; readily: I'd as soon leave right now.
Obsolete Immediately.

[Middle English sone, from Old English sōna, immediately, soon.]

Usage Note: No sooner, as a comparative adverb, should be followed by than, not when, as in these typical examples: No sooner had she come than the maid knocked. I had no sooner left than she called.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Soon

Soon\, adv. [OE. sone, AS. s?na; cf. OFries. s?n, OS. s[=a]na, s[=a]no, OHG. s[=a]r, Goth. suns.]

1. In a short time; shortly after any time specified or supposed; as, soon after sunrise. "Sooner said than done." --Old Proverb. "As soon as it might be." --Chaucer.

She finished, and the subtle fiend his lore Soon learned. --Milton.

2. Without the usual delay; before any time supposed; early.

How is it that ye are come so soon to-day? --Ex. ii. 18.

3. Promptly; quickly; easily.

Small lights are soon blown out, huge fires abide. --Shak.

4. Readily; willingly; -- in this sense used with would, or some other word expressing will.

I would as soon see a river winding through woods or in meadows, as when it is tossed up in so many whimsical figures at Versailles. --Addison.

As soon as, or So soon as, immediately at or after another event. "As soon as he came nigh unto the camp . . . he saw the calf, and the dancing." --Ex. xxxii. 19. See So . . . as, under So.

Soon at, as soon as; or, as soon as the time referred to arrives. [Obs.] "I shall be sent for soon at night." --Shak.

Sooner or later, at some uncertain time in the future; as, he will discover his mistake sooner or later.

With the soonest, as soon as any; among the earliest; too soon. [Obs.] --Holland.

Soon

Soon\, a. Speedy; quick. [Obs.] --Shak.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : soon

Spanish: pronto, en breve, dentro de poco,

German: bald,

Japanese: やがて

More Translations »

soon

O.E. sona "at once, immediately," from W.Gmc. *sæno (cf. O.Fris. son, O.S. sana, O.H.G. san, Goth. suns "soon"). Sense shifted early M.E. to "within a short time" through human nature (cf. anon). Amer.Eng. Sooner for "Oklahoma native" is 1930, from the fact that in 1889 many settlers of the territory snuck onto public land and staked their claims "sooner" than the legal date and time.

soon

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.

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