sooner

¹

[soo-ner]

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.

sooner

²

[soo-ner]

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.

Sooner

³

[soo-ner]

noun

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

sooner

/ 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

Usage

When is sometimes used instead of than after no sooner, but this use is generally regarded as incorrect: no sooner had he arrived than (not when ) the telephone rang

Word History and Origins

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

Idioms and Phrases

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.

Example Sentences

After his office took on responsibility for the county’s Emergency Operations Center after Woolsey, he said, that operation now activates sooner, based on threats, rather than after a disaster has taken place.

From Los Angeles Times

She may have to do more of that sooner than she thinks.

From Salon

That soon turned into "a sense of sadness and grief" when she thought about her younger self and the "emotion that need not have been there had I known sooner".

From BBC

Councils will be required to act sooner to prevent homelessness by providing support to households threatened with homelessness up to six months before homelessness appears imminent, rather than the current two months.

From BBC

His signature long, comma-rich sentences reach their periods a little sooner now.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ahead 
• back 
• previously 
• since 

When To Use

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.