so

SaySOH/soʊ/UK/səʊ/

23 meanings of so

Practice

1
as a resultconjunction
Used to join two parts of a sentence when the second is the result of the first.
I was hungry, so I asked for more food.
It started to snow heavily, so the school closed early.
UsageWhen joining two complete sentences with so, usually put a comma before it: It was late, so I left.
2
very muchadverb
Very or very much, used to make a word stronger, as in 'I'm so tired'.
Thank you so much for helping us move today.
It's not so bad, really.
UsageSay so nice, but such a nice day.
Similarvery, really, extremely, incredibly, terribly
3
in order thatconjunction
Short for so that: used to say why something is done.
Please speak up so everyone in the back can hear you.
I took an earlier train so I'd have time to prepare.
UsageOften so ... can or could: move closer so you can see.
4
topic openerinterjection
A word used to start talking, change topic, or begin an answer, as in 'So, how was your trip?'
So, I was walking home last night when I heard a strange noise.
So, did you finish the book I lent you last week?
Similarwell, now, right, OK
5
degree with resultadverb
To this amount or level, often followed by 'that' to say what happened, as in 'so dark that we couldn't see'.
It was so hot that all the plants died.
The music was so loud that I couldn't hear my phone ring.
UsageYou can leave out that: It was so cold we stayed in.
6
that actionadverb
Used after do, does, did or doing for an action just talked about, so you don't repeat it.
If you want to leave early, you can do so after lunch.
She said she would call me, and she did so the next day.
UsageIn speech, people usually say do it instead.
Note
7
likewiseadverb
Used to say that someone or something is the same in the way just mentioned, as in 'so do I'.
He wants to eat now, and so does she.
"I can count backwards from a hundred." "So can I."
UsageSay so do I or so am I to mean me too.
Similarlikewise, similarly
8
conjunction
Used to link what has been said to a question that follows from it.
So what should we do about dinner tonight, then?
So where do we go from here?

Less common meanings

9
what of itinterjection
Used as a short, rude question meaning 'why does that matter?'.
"You ate the last cookie." "So? You weren't going to eat it."
"He's late again." "So? He's always late."
UsageYou can also say So what?
10
totally notadverbcolloquial
In informal speech, used before 'not' for emphasis, as in 'so not true'.
Pink is so not my color, but thanks for the shirt.
I am so not going to that party.
UsageStress so when speaking: 'That is SO not fair.'
Similartotally, definitely, absolutely
11
that statementpronoundemonstrative
Used instead of repeating what was just said, as in 'I think so'.
If that's what you mean, just say so.
"Is it finished?" "I hope so."
UsageSay I think so or I hope so. In the negative, say I don't think so, but I hope not.
12
adjective
Used instead of repeating a describing word already used, as in 'It was cold and stayed so.'
The room was cold in the morning, and it stayed so all day.
The parting was painful for all of them, and even more so for Martha.
UsageSay something remained so or was especially so.
13
degree (with as)adverb
Used with 'as' in phrases like 'so far as' and 'so long as'.
The test was not so hard as I had feared.
So far as I know, she's still in Paris.
UsageAlso not so + word + as: not so hard as I feared.
14
trueadjective
True, matching the facts, as in 'that is so'.
If what you say is so, we need to act quickly.
You are responsible, is that not so?
UsageSay Is that so? when you hear news.
Similartrue, correct, right
Oppositefalse, untrue, wrong
15
indeedadverb
Used to agree with surprise that something is true, as in 'so it is!'.
"Look, it's stopped raining." "So it has!"
"Look, the cherry tree has started to bloom." "So it has!"
UsagePut the person or thing before the verb: so it is, so they are, so you have.
Similarindeed
16
conjunction
Used to start a question that expects no answer, brushing a worry aside.
"I don't have a gift for him." "So who needs a gift? Just come."
"It's late." "So who needs sleep?"
17
music notenoununcountable
In music, the name for the fifth note of a scale, sung as 'so'.
Do, re, mi, fa, so, la, ti, do.
The choir held the so while the altos moved.
UsageIt is also spelled sol.
Similarsol
Note
18
adverb
In the way someone is showing or telling you, as in "Hold it like so."
Fold the paper in half, like so, and then press down hard.
Hold your pencil like so, between your thumb and first finger.
Similarthus
19
on conditionconjunctionarchaic
In old English, 'provided that' or 'as long as'.
It's no matter, so she sleep not in her talk.
As we cal money not onely that which is true and good, but also the false; so it be currant.
1603, Michel de Montaigne, The EssayesHere, so means as long as, so provided that it is accepted money.
Note
20
adjectivedatedUK
Old British slang for gay, used carefully, as in 'is he so?'.
Similargay, homosexual
Note
21
stand stillinterjectionarchaic
An old call meaning 'stand still', used to cows and by sailors.
So, so, my beauty, stand still now.
So! cried the mate, and the men held the rope.
Note
22
pronoun
Short for someone: used in dictionaries and word lists to stand for any person.
23
noun
An ancient Japanese dairy food, made by boiling milk down until it thickened.

More uses

or soabout, or a little more or less, as in a week or so

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of so apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 1–16, 18–21

From Old English swā, meaning "so" or "as," which came from older Germanic and Indo-European roots.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

English so derives from Old English swā. en.wiktionary.org
Old English swā meant so or as. en.wiktionary.org
The word has reconstructed Germanic and Indo-European ancestry. en.wiktionary.org

Meaning 17

A shortened form of "sol," the fifth note of the musical scale, made shorter to give it a single open syllable.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

So is a shortened form of sol. en.wiktionary.org
Sol represents the fifth note of the scale in tonic sol-fa. en.wiktionary.org
The shortening was intended to produce an open syllable. en.wiktionary.org