sooner or later

Idioms  

1. Eventually, at some unspecified future time, as in Sooner or later we'll have to answer that letter, or It's bound to stop raining sooner or later. This term, which generally implies that some future event is certain to happen, was first recorded in 1577.

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Example Sentences

Whether they intend to or not, even the best of them let you down sooner or later because they are only human.

From Salon • Jun. 20, 2026

"The problem when you play in heat is if you keep giving the ball away, sooner or later someone's going to punish you," he told the BBC.

From BBC • Jun. 17, 2026

"We usually listen to the bells ringing -- it's calming. It gives hope for a better future and hope that sooner or later all of this will end," she said.

From Barron's • Jun. 15, 2026

But this much investment is bound to lift economic productivity sooner or later, which will mean wage increases for workers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

I ain’t hungry now, but sooner or later I will be, and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich always hits the spot.

From "The Young Man and the Sea" by Rodman Philbrick

Related Words

• eventually
• someday
• sometime