so
1in the way or manner indicated, described, or implied: Do it so.
in that or this manner or fashion; thus: So it turned out.
in the aforesaid state or condition: It is broken and has long been so.
to the extent or degree indicated or suggested: Do not walk so fast.
Informal. very or extremely: I'm so sad.
Informal. (used with the word "not" or in a generally negative statement to emphasize an adjective, noun phrase, or clause) really; surely: That is so not funny!My mom is so going to kill me!
very greatly: My head aches so!
(used before an adverb or an adverbial clause and followed by as) to such a degree or extent: so far as I know.
having the purpose of: a speech so commemorating the victory.
(used as an affirmative to emphasize or confirm a previous statement) most certainly: I said I would come, and so I will.
in such manner as to follow or result from: As he learned, so did he teach.
in the way that follows; in this way: The audience was seated, and so the famous speech began.
in the way that precedes; in that way: So ended the speech, and the listeners arose and cheered.
in such way as to end in: So live your life that old age will bring you no regrets.
then; subsequently: and so to bed.
in order that (often followed by that): Check carefully, so any mistakes will be caught.
with the result that (often followed by that): He checked carefully, so that the mistakes were caught.
on the condition that; if.
such as has been stated: to be good and stay so.
something that is about or near the persons or things in question, as in number or amount: Of the original twelve, five or so remain.
(used as an exclamation of surprise, shock, discovery, inquiry, indifference, etc., according to the manner of utterance.)
true as stated or reported; conforming with reality or the fact: Say it isn't so.
Idioms about so
not so much, Informal. not (def. 3).
only / just so many, being a limited or small number or amount: I can eat only so many pieces of fruit.
only / just so much, being a limited amount or quantity; up to a certain point or maximum: I can eat only so much fruit; just so much that one can do in such a case.
so as,
with the result or purpose: to turn up the volume of the radio so as to drown out the noise from the next apartment.
Older Use. provided that: I like any flower, just so as it's real.
so much,
something, as an amount or cost, that is not specified or determined: The carpeting is priced at so much per yard.
all that is or needs to be said or done: So much for the preliminaries, let's get down to the real issues.
so much as, even: He doesn't so much as say hello to me.
so to speak. speak (def. 23).
so what? what (def. 27).
Origin of so
1synonym study For so
usage note For so
19, 20. The conjunction so (often followed by that ) introduces clauses both of purpose ( We ordered our tickets early so that we could get good seats ) and of result ( The river had frozen during the night so people walked across it all the next day ). In formal speech and writing, so that is somewhat more common than so in clauses of purpose. Otherwise, either so or so that is standard.
Like and, but1 , and or, so can occur as a transitional word at the beginning of a sentence: So all our hard work finally brought results. See also as1, and, but1.
Other definitions for so (2 of 6)
Other definitions for SO (3 of 6)
significant other (def. 2). : Also S.O.
Other definitions for s.o. (4 of 6)
seller's option.
shipping order.
Other definitions for So. (5 of 6)
South.
Southern.
Other definitions for S.O. (6 of 6)
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
British Dictionary definitions for so (1 of 5)
/ (səʊ) /
(foll by an adjective or adverb and a correlative clause often introduced by that) to such an extent: the river is so dirty that it smells
(used with a negative; it replaces the first as in an equative comparison) to the same extent as: she is not so old as you
(intensifier): it's so lovely; I love you so
in the state or manner expressed or implied: they're happy and will remain so
(not used with a negative; foll by an auxiliary verb or do, have, or be used as main verbs) also; likewise: I can speak Spanish and so can you
informal indeed: used to contradict a negative statement: You didn't tell the truth. I did so!
archaic provided that
and so on or and so forth and continuing similarly
just so See just (def. 19)
or so approximately: fifty or so people came to see me
quite so I agree; exactly
so be it used to express agreement or resignation
so much
a certain degree or amount (of)
a lot (of): it's just so much nonsense
so much for
no more can or need be said about
used to express contempt for something that has failed: so much for your bright idea
in order (that): to die so that you might live
with the consequence (that): he was late home, so that there was trouble
so as (takes an infinitive) in order (to): to slim so as to lose weight
in consequence; hence: she wasn't needed, so she left
used to introduce a sentence expressing resignation, amazement, or sarcasm: so you're publishing a book!
thereupon; and then: and so we ended up in France
used to introduce a sentence or clause to add emphasis: he's crazy, so he is
so what! informal what importance does that have?
used to substitute for a clause or sentence, which may be understood: you'll stop because I said so
(used with is, was, etc) factual; true: it can't be so
an exclamation of agreement, surprise, etc
Origin of so
1usage For so
British Dictionary definitions for so (2 of 5)
/ (səʊ) /
music a variant spelling of soh
British Dictionary definitions for so (3 of 5)
Somalia
British Dictionary definitions for SO (4 of 5)
Somalia (international car registration)
British Dictionary definitions for S.O. (5 of 5)
/ baseball /
strike out
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with so
In addition to the idioms beginning with so
- so as to
- so be it
- so far
- so far as
- so far, so good
- so help me
- soil one's hands
- sold on, be
- sold out
- so long
- so long as
- so many
- so much
- so much as
- so much for
- so much the
- song and dance
- son of a bitch
- so that
- so to speak
- so what
also see:
- and so forth (and so on)
- as (so) far as
- as (so) far as possible
- as (so) far as that goes
- as (so) long as
- as (so) much as
- even so
- every now and then (so often)
- go so far as to
- how come (so)
- in so many words
- is that a fact (so)
- I told you so
- just so
- never had it so good
- not (so) bad
- on one's say-so
- or so
- take it (just so much)
- without so much as
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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