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• sooner
  sooner

  adverb

  the comparative form of soon.
• Sooner
  Sooner

  noun

  a native or inhabitant of Oklahoma the Sooner State (used as a nickname).

sooner

¹ American  

[soo-ner] / ˈsu nər /

adverb

1. the comparative form of soon.

2. within a shorter period.

   That day will come sooner than you think.

3. earlier.

   I just wish I'd done it sooner.

4. in preference to something else; more willingly or readily; rather.

   We might sooner trust the wind than trust our own frail resolutions.

5. more likely or easily.

   It's a color you might sooner expect to find on a Lamborghini than on a BMW.

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idioms

1. sooner or later, eventually.

   Sooner or later his luck will run out.

2. would sooner, to prefer to; to prefer that.

   I would sooner not go to their party.

   I'd sooner you did the recording, as you're better at it than I am.

sooner ² American  

[soo-ner] / ˈsu nər /

noun

1. a person who settles on government land before it is legally opened to settlers in order to gain the choice of location.

2. a person who gains an unfair advantage by getting ahead of others.

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Sooner ³ American  

[soo-ner] / ˈsu nər /

noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Oklahoma the Sooner State (used as a nickname).

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sooner British  

/ ˈsuːnə /

adverb

1. the comparative of soon

   he came sooner than I thought

2. rather; in preference

   I'd sooner die than give up

3. immediately after or when

   no sooner had he got home than the rain stopped

   no sooner said than done

4. eventually; inevitably

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Usage

What else does Sooner mean? A Sooner is a person who lives in the state of Oklahoma. It is also a nickname for students and athletes at the University of Oklahoma.

Etymology

Origin of sooner¹

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English soner(e), sonor(e), sonre; soon ( def. ) + -er ⁵ ( def. )

Origin of sooner²

An Americanism dating back to 1885–90; soon + -er ¹

Explanation

The adverb sooner means "more promptly" or "earlier." If you miss your bus, you'll regret not waking up sooner! When you're little, it feels like you'll never grow up, but that day comes sooner than you think. This meaning comes from soon and its Old English root, which means "immediately." In the U.S., Oklahomans are known as Sooners, a nickname that arose after settlers snuck onto and claimed land in Indian Territory sooner than they were legally allowed. Another meaning of sooner is "rather," as in "I'd sooner have a cat than a dog."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sooner Sooner

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson says the National Cancer Plan "will help more people get diagnosed earlier and begin treatment sooner".

From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026

A UK inquiry released in February found some of the deaths would have been "avoidable" if British and French authorities had acted sooner to rescue those onboard.

From Barron's ● Sep. 8, 2026

A key reason for the selection was a rule-change that allowed SpaceX and other large newly public companies to join the Nasdaq-100 index months sooner than usual.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026

I should have done it sooner: cooking the chicken beneath a brick leaves the skin remarkably crisp while the meat stays juicy and flavorful.

From Salon ● Sep. 8, 2026

“Because I knew that, sooner or later, he would come here and beg you to take his place in the Library Olympics.”

From "Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics" by Chris Grabenstein

Sooner or later, Microsoft will have to open up.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026

"Sooner or later this has to resolve itself. Hopefully sooner," said one EU diplomat, talking as others on condition of anonymity.

From Barron's ● Apr. 13, 2026

"Sooner or later these so-called alphabetical world champions are going to have to fight me. They will be hunted and destroyed. Who will they face for money? I'm the money man," he said.

From BBC ● Apr. 9, 2026

Sooner or later, the final picture is going to lose its novelty.

From Salon ● Mar. 29, 2026

Sooner or later we knew we were going to have to start hiding people here in the city.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

Related Words

• ahead
• back
• previously
• since