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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

Florio was indignant that the accident didn’t become public sooner, yet he defended Simms for not breaking the story.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026

Traders sold U.S. government bonds on concerns that higher energy costs could lift inflation and trigger the Fed to take action on interest rates perhaps sooner than previously expected.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 26, 2026

As the years went by, it became more or less evident that sooner or later I would be asked to do this job.

From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026

Antitrust enforcers will identify some deals for narrower investigations that could close sooner.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026

As for the slave trade, the sooner that despicable traffic was ended, the better for everybody.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

Unveiling a plaque at the Grand Union Canal, he said: "Sooner or later, all canal roads lead here, and all canal journeys end here."

From BBC ● Jul. 2, 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, his ego will come face-to-face with the law.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 11, 2025

By 2017, Sooner tight ends contributed more than 31% of the team’s passing offense.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 24, 2025

Sooner or later, nearly every family lost a father, brother, or son.

From "Fannie Never Flinched" by Mary Cronk Farrell

Related Words

• ahead
• back
• previously
• since