# soon

Pronunciation: say "SOON" US /sun/, UK /suːn/

## Adverb

1. Within a short time from now or from the moment in question; quickly.
   - Simple: In a short time, not long from now or after something happens.
   - _The results should be announced soon after the polls close._
   - _Negotiators soon realized that neither side intended to compromise._
2. Willingly or readily, when paired with "would" or a similar verb of wishing or intention.
   - Simple: Happily or willingly. Used with 'would', often to say what someone would rather do.
   - _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._
4. Early; at an early hour or ahead of the usual time. *(dialectal)*
   - Simple: Early, before the usual or expected time.

## Adjective

3. Within a short time; shortly, especially in the construction 'be soon to (do something)', meaning 'be going to (do it) before long'.
   - Simple: In a short time. If you are soon to do something, you will do it shortly.
   - _The company is soon to announce a new line of electric trucks._
   - _He was soon to learn that the rumors were true._
5. Early; occurring or beginning ahead of the usual time. *(dialectal, US)*
   - Simple: Early, coming or starting before the usual time.

## Adverb

6. Immediately; at that very moment, without any delay. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: Right away, at that very moment, with no waiting at all.

## 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.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/soon (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).