English Explanatory Dictionary

soon

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Short in length of time from the present.
  2. Early.
  3. Used as an alternative to express 'to be going to' in the form 'to be soon to'.
adv
  1. Immediately, instantly.
  2. Within a short time; quickly.
  3. Early.
  4. Readily; willingly; used with would, or some other word expressing will.
name
  1. A surname.

Pronunciation

so͞on /suːn/ /sun/ en-us-soon.ogg

Word forms

soon sooner soonest Soons

Etymology

From Middle English sone, from Old English sōna (“immediately, at once”), from Proto-West Germanic *sān(ō), from Proto-Germanic *sēna, *sēnô (“immediately, soon, then”), from *sa (demonstrative pronoun), from Proto-Indo-European *só (demonstrative pronoun). Cognate with Scots sone, sune, schone (“soon, quickly, at once”), North Frisian san (“immediately, at once”), dialectal Dutch zaan (“soon, before long”), Middle Low German sân (“right afterwards, soon”), Middle High German sān, son (“soon, then”), Old High German sār (“immediately, soon”). Compare also Gothic 𐍃𐌿𐌽𐍃 (suns, “immediately, soon”), from Proto-Germanic *suniz (“soon”).

Synonyms

anon betimes by and by directly dreckley early eftsoons hastily imminently just now momentarily presently promptly pronto quickly rear shortly soon tidely

Antonyms

behind time eventually immediately on time punctually recently someday sometime

Related words

soon kueh soon kway prematurely

Derived words

a fool and his money are soon parted anytime soon any time soon as soon as as soon as look at someone as soon as possible eaten bread is soon forgotten eftsoons get well soon just as soon as none too soon not a minute too soon not a moment too soon oversoon real soon now you soon soon enough sooner or later soonish soonly soonness soon-to-be soon to follow soon-to-wed Soon™ speak too soon too soon
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