soon
- 1Within a short time from now or from the moment in question; quickly.
The results should be announced soon after the polls close.
Negotiators soon realized that neither side intended to compromise.
UsageCommon in as soon as, soon after, pretty soon and sooner or later.
- 2Willingly or readily, when paired with "would" or a similar verb of wishing or intention.
He would as soon admit the mistake himself as let someone else take the blame.
Most of the staff would sooner quit than work under those conditions.
UsagePatterns: would as soon + verb as, and would sooner + verb than: I'd sooner walk than ask.
Similarrather, gladly, willingly, readily
Note
Here the word measures preference, not time. In The Guardian, Joseph Addison "would as soon see a river winding through woods" as tossed into fountains at Versailles.
Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 1 fact
- The Guardian contains Joseph Addison's quoted comparison between a winding river and water tossed into ornamental fountains at Versailles. en.wiktionary.org
- 3Within a short time; shortly, especially in the construction 'be soon to (do something)', meaning 'be going to (do it) before long'.
The company is soon to announce a new line of electric trucks.
He was soon to learn that the rumors were true.
Similarabout
Note
In past-tense storytelling, as in he was soon to learn, it looks ahead from inside the story. The coming event is presented as already settled.
- 4Early; at an early hour or ahead of the usual time.
How is it that ye are come so soon to day?
1611, The Holy Bible, King James Version“Been huntin’ fuh mah mule. Anybody seen ’im?” he asked. “Seen ’im soon dis mornin’ over behind de school-house,” Lum said. “’’Bout ten o’clock or so. He musta been out all night tuh be way over dere dat early.”
1937, Zora Neale Hurston, Their Eyes Were Watching GodSimilarearly
Oppositelate
Note
Early by the clock rather than after a short wait: soon this morning means at an early hour. The King James Bible asks "How is it that ye are come so soon to day?" Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God (1937) still has "Seen 'im soon dis mornin'." It is the adverb partner of the dialect adjective for "early".
Less common meanings
- 5Early; occurring or beginning ahead of the usual time.
They were different from colored folks who had to be out to get a soon start.
2000, Laurence G. Avery, A Paul Green ReaderGot up pretty early, ate a soon breakfast, had the sulky and was about to start to Newtown when it commenced raining..
1997, Dorothy Stanaland Samuel, Taliaferro Leslie SamuelOppositelate
Note
In this American dialect use, a soon start or a soon breakfast is an early one. A family history records someone who "ate a soon breakfast" and was about to leave for Newtown when it began raining. It is the adjective partner of the adverb for "early".
- 6Immediately; at that very moment, without any delay.
Note
The oldest force of the word: Old English sōna meant "immediately, at once." Over time the instant stretched into an interval, leaving the everyday "before long" in its place. When an older text says something was done soon, it may mean done on the spot; let the context decide.
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts
- The word descends from Old English sōna, meaning immediately or at once. en.wiktionary.org
- The meaning weakened from immediacy to a short future interval. ioe.ucc.edu.gh
- Older texts also use soon for a future interval. In Pride and Prejudice, Mr. Bennet writes that Elizabeth will soon marry Darcy; the marriage has yet to happen. Interpretation depends on context. gutenberg.org
Showing meanings only.
Practice
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Origin
Old English sōna meant "immediately, at once" and became Middle English sone. Before that, it goes back through Proto-West Germanic and Proto-Germanic words meaning "immediately, soon," and perhaps ultimately to a Proto-Indo-European demonstrative pronoun. Cognates include Scots sune, North Frisian san, and Old High German sār.