soon
Americanadverb
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within a short period after this or that time, event, etc..
We shall know soon after he calls.
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before long; in the near future; at an early date.
Let's leave soon.
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promptly or quickly.
He came as soon as he could.
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readily or willingly.
I would as soon walk as ride.
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early in a period of time; before the time specified is much advanced.
soon at night; soon in the evening.
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Obsolete. immediately; at once; forthwith.
adverb
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in or after a short time; in a little while; before long
the doctor will soon be here
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at the very moment that
she burst into tears as soon as she saw him
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used to indicate that the second alternative mentioned is not preferable to the first
I'd just as soon go by train as drive
Etymology
Origin of soon
First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English sōna; cognate with Old High German sān, Gothic suns
Explanation
When someone says they'll be arriving soon, it means you won't have to wait much longer for them to show up because they will be there in the near future. The word soon is often used when there’s anticipation for something that’s about to happen. For example, “Dinner will be ready soon,” means it’ll be ready shortly. Soon can also add a sense of urgency to a request, as in “Please respond soon,” suggesting the need for a quick reply. In both cases, the word soon means that there shouldn't be a long wait.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Space Shuttle Endeavour, NASA’s final space shuttle, will soon be available again for public viewing.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 14, 2026
Van Zandt has no signs of slowing down anytime soon, as Page Six recently reported that he is working on screenplays “set in the Garden State.”
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 14, 2026
The gist: Charge up soon or you won’t make it to your destination.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026
"I would expect that he'd be back to completely full level of activity very soon."
From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2026
As soon as everyone had coffee, I sat down just to gaze at him.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
