soonsoon /suːn/ ●●● S1 W1 adverb (comparative sooner, superlative soonest) 
It will be dark soon. David arrived sooner than I expected.soon after Paula became pregnant soon after they were married. ‘Who?’ ‘You’ll find out soon enough (=fairly soon).’2quickly: How soon can you finish the report? Try and get the car fixed as soon as possible.3as soon as immediately after something happens, without delay: As soon as she entered the room, she knew there was something wrong. I’ll come over to your place as soon as I can.4the sooner ( ... ) the better used to say that it is important that something should happen very soon: The sooner we get this job finished the better. Let’s get out of here! The sooner the better!5the sooner ... the sooner used to say that you want something to happen soon, so that something else can then happen: The sooner I get this work done, the sooner I can go home.6no sooner had/did ... than used to say that something happened almost immediately after something else: No sooner had he sat down than the phone rang.7sooner or later used to say that something is certain to happen at some time in the future, though you cannot be sure exactly when: His wife’s bound to find out sooner or later.8too soon too earlytoo soon to do something It’s still too soon to say whether the operation was a success. The holidays were over all too soon (=much earlier than you would like).9no sooner said than done used to say that you will do something immediately10not a moment too soon/none too soon almost too late: ‘The doctor’s here!’ ‘And not a moment too soon!’11somebody would sooner do something (than) if you would sooner do something, you would much prefer to do it, especially instead of something that seems unpleasant: I’d sooner die than marry you!12somebody would (just) as soon formal used to say that someone would prefer to do something or would prefer something to happen: I’d just as soon you didn’t drive the car while I’m gone.Grammar guide ‒ VERBSTHESAURUSsoon in a short time from now, or a short time after something else happens: · See you soon!· It seemed difficult at first, but I soon got used to it.in the near future in the next few weeks or months. In the near future is more formal than soon: · The book will be on sale in the near future.in no time (at all) very soon – used to talk about something good happening: · You’ll be feeling better in no time at all.· In no time at all, her son was starting to speak Japanese.in a minute spoken used to say that you will do something or something will happen within a few minutes: · I’ll be ready in a minute.· The film’s going to start in a minute.any minute now spoken used to say that something will or may happen very soon, but you do not know exactly when: · They should be here any minute now.any day now spoken used to say that something will or may happen in the next few days, but you do not know exactly when: · I’m hoping to hear from her any day now.shortly formal a short time from now: · They will be with us shortly.· the new laws that will shortly be coming into effectbefore long especially literary soon – used especially when something happens which you expected to happen: · They got married, and before long Anna was expecting a baby.it will not be long used when saying that something will happen soon: · It won’t be long before everything is back to normal.· I knew that it wouldn’t be long before the same thing happened again.
WORD ORIGINsoon
Origin:
Old English sona ‘immediately’EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Driving in the city was hard at first, but she soon got used to it.
- I came as soon as I could.
- It'll soon be Christmas.
- Please reply as soon as possible.
- They came back much sooner than we had anticipated.
- They set off soon after breakfast.
- We soon realized how difficult the job was going to be.
- We need to get him to a hospital, and the sooner the better.
- Why wasn't I told about this sooner?
- As soon as the daughter leaves the room, Louise asks what is the matter.
- As soon as the harvesting was done, the overseer called him to the porch of the house.
- But he soon returned and attacked her again.
- In the evening the wind became stronger and soon a great storm broke above us.
- The track soon becomes rocky and steep, but not too much of a challenge for a decent four-wheel drive.
- They left soon after the birth, and Ariel could tell they were glad to.
THESAURUS
in a short time from now, or a short time after something else happens: · See you soon!· It seemed difficult at first, but I soon got used to it.
in the next few weeks or months. In the near future is more formal than soon: · The book will be on sale in the near future.
very soon – used to talk about something good happening: · You’ll be feeling better in no time at all.· In no time at all, her son was starting to speak Japanese.
spoken used to say that you will do something or something will happen within a few minutes: · I’ll be ready in a minute.· The film’s going to start in a minute.
spoken used to say that something will or may happen very soon, but you do not know exactly when: · They should be here any minute now.
spoken used to say that something will or may happen in the next few days, but you do not know exactly when: · I’m hoping to hear from her any day now.
formal a short time from now: · They will be with us shortly.· the new laws that will shortly be coming into effect
especially literary soon – used especially when something happens which you expected to happen: · They got married, and before long Anna was expecting a baby.
used when saying that something will happen soon: · It won’t be long before everything is back to normal.· I knew that it wouldn’t be long before the same thing happened again.
Longman Language Activatorin a short time from now or from a particular time in a short time from now, or a short time after something else happens: · It'll soon be Christmas.· Driving in the city was hard at first, but she soon got used to it.· Why wasn't I told about this sooner?as soon as possible: · Please reply as soon as possible.as soon as you can: · I came as soon as I could.the sooner the better (=used to say that it is important that something is done very soon): · We need to get him to a hospital, and the sooner the better.after/afterwards: · They set off soon after breakfast.
after a fairly short time: · Those two will be getting married before long.· Her eyelids began to droop and before long she was fast asleep.
soon - use this especially about something that you know will happen soon: · We apologize for the delay -- the train will be leaving shortly.· The President will shortly be on his way to Italy for a trade conference.shortly after: · Her last novel was published shortly after her death.
use this to talk about something that will happen in the next few weeks or months, although you do not know exactly when: · She doesn't have a driver's license, but is hoping to pass her test in the near future.· A new health club is to be built here in the not too distant future.
spoken use this to say that something will happen soon or someone will arrive soon: · Dinner won't be long.· "When's Dad coming home?'' "He won't be long.''it won't be long before: · It won't be long before we're off on vacation.
use this to talk about something that happened fairly soon after a particular event: · They started playing together in June 1961, and it wasn't long before they got a recording contract.
if you do something quickly , you do it very soon after something else happens: · Alex was knocked to the ground, but he quickly recovered.· Fortunately, India quickly returned to calm after Mrs Gandhi's death.
very soon use this to talk about something good that will happen very soon or that happened a very short time after something else: · Don't worry - you'll be back to normal in no time.· In no time at all he had built up a big following among the local black community.
spoken use this to talk about something that will happen or that you will do within a few minutes: · The coffee will be ready in a minute.· Don't keep nagging me - I'll do it in a minute!· We will return to the subject of tax in a moment.
spoken use this to say that something will happen in a very short time from now, but you do not know exactly when: · My father's due to arrive any minute now.· Any moment now the final whistle will be blown.· If she hasn't had the baby already, she's going to have it any time now.
spoken use this to say that something will happen at some time in the next few days, but you do not know exactly when: · The letter should be with you any day now.· His ship was due back from the Pacific any day now.
use this to talk about something that may happen very soon, especially something dangerous or unpleasant: · He could have another heart attack at any moment.· We knew that war might break out at any moment.· The car looked as though it would fall apart at any minute.
American use this to tell someone politely that something will happen very soon: · Mr Ewing will see you momentarily, sir.
spoken use this to say that something will happen or be done very soon and before you really realize it is happening: · You'll be fully recovered before you know it.· You offer to iron his shirt and before you know it, he expects you to do all the housework.
to be going to happen soon spoken · I'm pretty busy right now -- I have exams coming up next week.· With Christmas coming up, we didn't have much spare money.
if something that you are hoping for is in sight , you think it will probably happen soon: · A solution to the problem now seems in sight.be nowhere in sight (=not likely to happen soon): · The end of the economic nightmare is still nowhere in sight.
also be round the corner British if something is around the corner , it might happen very soon but you cannot be completely sure: · In life, you never quite know what's around the corner.· He continues to hint that the end of his playing career may be round the corner.be just around the corner: · They keep telling us that better economic times are just around the corner.
to be likely to happen soon, although you do not know exactly when: · Appeals are common when a general election is in the offing.· According to the company, these deals had been in the offing for some time.
something that is imminent , especially something important, unpleasant, or dangerous, is likely to happen very soon: · Soon it became clear to everyone that war was imminent.· With the election imminent, Churchill returned to London.· Some of the buildings were in a state of imminent collapse.imminent danger: · The child was in imminent danger of falling into the water.
a forthcoming event has been planned to happen soon: · Dixon was convinced he could win the forthcoming election.· The matter will be discussed at the forthcoming general meeting.· Forthcoming attractions include a magician and a quiz competition.
American an upcoming event, especially a political event, has been planned to happen: · The space program will be reviewed during the upcoming congressional session.· He was preparing the federal budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
when something unpleasant is going to happen soon if a problem or difficulty looms , it is likely to happen soon: · As the day of my interview loomed, I became increasingly nervous.· With the prospect of bankruptcy looming, life is getting tough for small businesses.
if something dangerous or unpleasant hangs over you, it is likely to happen soon and this makes you feel worried and nervous: · The threat of nuclear war hangs over mankind.· With the court case hanging over us, we couldn't enjoy our vacation.
if problems, difficulties, arguments etc are brewing , they are starting to develop and will probably happen soon: · Union bosses fear that a strike is brewing in the coal industry.· A major political row over the European question had been brewing for some time.
an impending event or situation, especially an unpleasant one, is going to happen very soon: · Extra troops were usually a sign of an impending attack.· We were sorry to hear about Arlene's impending divorce.· warnings of an impending ecological disaster
too early · Too much success too early can cause you to grow overconfident.too early to do something · It's still too early to tell if the treatment is going to be effective.too early for · There aren't any raspberries in the stores yet. It's too early for them.far/way too early (=much too early) · We arrived far too early and had to wait outside for an hour.
happening too early after something else, or doing something much earlier than you should: · I don't think you should go back to work too soon after having the baby.too soon to do something: · It's too soon to say what effect the merger will have on the company's 1500 employeestoo soon for: · I knew it was too soon for any likely resolution of the problem.far/way too soon (=much too soon): · You can't get married next week! That's far too soon.· Lendl hit the ball way too soon.
written: untimely death/end much earlier than usual or expected, so that people are surprised by it: · Before his untimely death in 1991, Freddie Mercury was a brilliant singer and performer.meet an untimely end (=die early): · His grandfather had met an untimely end as the result of too much whisky.
happening before the normal or natural time: premature death/birth/ageing: · Alcoholism is one of the major causes of premature death.· It has been proved that sunbathing causes premature ageing of the skin.premature baby (=a baby that is born before the normal time): · Her baby was premature and weighed only 2kg.
informal to do or say something too early, before you know what is going to happen next, so that you risk making a mistake: · I think it would be jumping the gun to sign the agreement at this stage.· Surely it's jumping the gun to buy the ring before you've even asked her to marry you?
British if you say it's early days , you mean that it is still too early in a process or event to know what will happen: · It's still early days, but all the signs are that the operation has been a success.it's early days yet: · "It looks like Liverpool are going to win the championship.'' "Oh I don't know. It's early days yet.''
immediately after something else happens · We met at a friend's party, and immediately became friends.· There was a loud explosion in the engine-room, and almost immediately a fire broke out.· I'll call you immediately we hear any news about the baby.immediately after/afterwards · We'll have to leave immediately after the meeting.· Mrs Smith was admitted to hospital at 10 o'clock, but died immediately afterwards.
immediately after something has happened or immediately after you have done something: · As soon as Stephen felt well again, he returned to work.· I will pay you back, I promise, the moment I get paid.· Honey, I swear, I'll phone you the moment I get to New York.
immediately after something has happened or someone has done something - use this especially in stories or in descriptions of events: no sooner had...than: · No sooner had they sat down to eat than the phone rang.· No sooner had he arrived in the city than his wallet was stolen.no sooner was/were...than: · No sooner were the words out of her mouth than she regretted them.
also hardly had immediately after an event or action has finished - use this especially in stories or in descriptions of events: · I'd done food shopping and had barely gotten to the door, when Debbie asked if I'd been listening to the radio.· Hardly had the film reached our screens last July than it was plagued by troubles and controversy.
to do something immediately, as soon as you have the chance to do it: lose no time in doing something: · When the new manager was appointed, he lost no time in reorganizing the office.· Murdock lost no time in setting out for London to find work.
at almost the same time that something else happens, and happening as a direct result of it: · Sea snakes inject a poison so strong that it kills a fish instantly.· It was a head-on crash and both drivers died instantly.
written if someone is killed outright , they die immediately from an attack or an accident: · He was killed outright when his car crashed at high speed.
when something happens before it is too late · David said he'd take me to the concert, if he's home in time.· If you don't leave enough space between your car and the car in front, you may not be able to stop in time.in time to do something · Don't worry, I'll be back in time to cook dinner.· She's hoping to be out of hospital in time to celebrate her birthday at home.in time for · Do you think you'll be fit in time for Saturday's race?
happening or done in time, but almost too late: · She put her foot on the brakes just in time.just in time to do something: · He got to the airport just in time to catch the flight to Madrid.just in time for: · Come in. You're just in time for a cup of coffee.only just in time British: · We were only just in time. A few more minutes and the bank would have been closed.
informal just in time to prevent something bad from happening - often used in stories: · Radio contact was established in the nick of time and we managed to transmit a message to the ship.just in the nick of time: · She escaped from her smoke-filled home just in the nick of time.
just in time to prevent something very bad from happening: · The ambulance finally arrived, not a moment too soon.
if something happens at the last minute , it happens at the latest possible time, just before it is too late: · An American businessman stepped in at the last minute to rescue the company.· Realizing its error at the last minute, the magazine just managed to correct the offending headline.
if something happens at the eleventh hour , it happens at the latest possible time, just before it is too late - use this when you had almost given up hoping that something would happen: · War was averted at the eleventh hour when both sides agreed to talks.
to manage to do something, talk to someone, see something etc just before it is too late: · I managed to catch her just as she was leaving the office.catch the post British (=post letters etc in time for them to be collected that day): · The letters were all addressed and stamped, and there was still plenty of time to catch the post.catch the news/a TV programme etc: · She was rushing to catch her favorite show on TV.
British /cut it close American to have very little time left before you have to be somewhere or do something, so that you are almost late: · Kelly had 10 minutes to reach the studio -- even in normal traffic that was cutting it close.cut it a bit fine: · You're cutting it a bit fine aren't you? The show starts in 2 minutes.cut it pretty close: · We cut it pretty close - we only had 30 minutes to get to the airport.
use this to tell or warn someone to do something now in order to prevent something bad from happening that they will not be able to change later: · You'd better get that letter back from her somehow, before it's too late.· We are urging the government to stop the bombing now, before it's too late.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY ‘Who?’ ‘You’ll find out soon enough (=fairly soon).’ How soon can you finish the report? Try and get the car fixed as soon as possible. The holidays were over all too soon (=much earlier than you would like).COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES Not long after the wedding, his wife became ill. The family moved to Hardingham in June 1983, and Sarah’s first child was born soon after. Please let me know your decision as soon as possible (=as soon as you can). If he left immediately, he’d catch the 7.30 train.
‘Who?’ ‘You’ll find out soon enough (=fairly soon).’ How soon can you finish the report? Try and get the car fixed as soon as possible. The holidays were over all too soon (=much earlier than you would like). Not long after the wedding, his wife became ill. The family moved to Hardingham in June 1983, and Sarah’s first child was born soon after.· My parents are due to arrive shortly.
Please let me know your decision as soon as possible (=as soon as you can). If he left immediately, he’d catch the 7.30 train. (=used to say what someone prefers) I’d rather stay in this evening, if that’s all right with you.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSVERB I’d rather stay in this evening, if that’s all right with you.· In private practice, and by virtue of his influential writings, Maudsley soon became the leading alienist of his generation.· And the competing drive for ever better features by the individual car companies soon became a relic of the past.· The same may well be true of the comprehensive resources we have suggested may soon become available in fixed sites.· It soon became widely accepted that Mercury, like the Moon facing Earth, always kept the same side facing the Sun.· While the diagnosis was straight forward, the business of getting treatment soon became an epic.· That goal soon becomes many short-term and long-term goals.· Amy had had previous theatrical work and soon became one of his principals.· It soon becomes clear to all employees that the product of their organization is tests and medical procedures, not patient care.
· Evenings are their weakest time since they soon begin to feel fatigued and want to go to sleep relatively early.· Readers of the Amelia books soon begin to play similar language games.· The population of the town soon began to expand at a phenomenal rate.· When they act in concert, the individual soon begins to feel stretched to the limit.· Another wave of kidnappings began soon after I got out there in 1985.· The extension has since been approved, and construction is expected to begin soon.· Fears soon began to be expressed that wines from the Midi too would again find their way back into Champagne cellars.· It will soon begin the same effort in a dozen other cities.
· He soon came back, trying not to look intimidated.· A convergence of prophecies agrees that something big is coming soon, some end of cycle phenomenon.· Which soon comes off the shoulder anyway.· And Katherine would be coming soon.· And coming soon, says the Waveco company, is a gel-filled wrist rest for keyboards.· It soon comes to realize that to receive human company, barking for a bit should be sufficient.· Out of this there soon came the normal development of light industry.
· She had died soon after Daisy's marriage.· Minh Mang died soon afterward, and his successor was even more chauvinistic than he.· Sophy Nkabule has one type, and she will soon die.· And as for the rest, I will die soon, and you will see more than I-no, no.· She had severe head injuries and was taken to Milton Keynes hospital but died soon after arrival.· It requires very cool water and soon dies in aquariums.· He went into a coma and died soon afterwards.· Zeus struck Lycurgus blind and he died soon after.
· But Joe soon discovered that naval officials in Rangoon had no record of his Kunming telegram.· I soon discovered he had a natural feeling for poetry.· It was soon discovered, by conversation, that it was a bloodless battle.· Any computer user soon discovers that sometimes hardware, and more often software, is extremely fallible.· The system had a breaking point, we soon discovered.· Brandt's secret method of preparation was soon discovered.· The managers soon discovered their management responsibilities as role models.
· The Dottie Banks who opened the flat door was looking expensive; as to her discretion, he would no doubt soon find out.· With the death of Lenin, the Leninists soon found themselves in a minority in the Bolshevik party they had created.· Four culprits were soon found and arrested.· In Loreto Entally, however, the community soon found a more novel way of distinguishing the two.· Similarly, an expert selling obsolete knowledge may soon find power is withdrawn.· We came around a bend, and soon found out why the oncoming traffic had stopped.· I soon found that Bertha and I had nothing in common.· Not surprisingly, they soon found themselves in deep crisis.
· Just one secondary school and its primary feeders need to take this path and others would soon follow.· One hundred more polio patients soon followed.· Yet despite the general improvement in relations and these two releases, we weren't confident that we would soon follow.· Many other distance measurements of relatively nearby stars soon followed.· Their marriage, which had followed soon afterwards, was a very quiet, low-key affair.· Get artificial insects down, and artificial apes will soon follow.· Sir Edmond had been the first of the Goldsmiths to found a School but his example was soon followed.· I erupted ten minutes later, and Carlo soon followed.
· And when - inevitably - you do capsize, you soon learn how to not make the same mistakes again.· Radio reporters in the field soon learned where all the good pay phones were located.· Institutionalism sets in after a few months, and active people slow down and soon learn not to complain.· I soon learn there are six other resident hotels within a few square blocks.· A sensible dog soon learns that barking is not enough and will attract his master's attention in some other way.· Those who learn from a machine soon learn to live like one.· I soon learn the bicycle protocol.· Kreizler and friends soon learn that she may have murdered a number of infants in her care in New York City.
· They left soon after the birth, and Ariel could tell they were glad to.· The Emerald City was soon left far behind.· After her mother died in 1949, Reese quit Wayne State University and soon left home.· She goes out with Moira, the new trainer, but soon leaves her a quarter of a mile behind.· They soon left the urban sprawl of roundabouts, sodium streetlights and Wimpey homes and Dexter began to speed along country lanes.· A glance at her watch informed her she would have to be leaving soon.· Maybe she's booked a cruise that leaves soon.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► no sooner had/did ... than► no sooner said than done► not a moment too soon/none too soon► somebody would sooner do something (than)► the sooner ... the soonerPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► the sooner the better/the bigger the better etc► a fool and his money are soon parted► as soon as your head hits the pillow► as soon as poss► would rather/would sooner ... than
1in a short time from now, or a short time after something else happens: - Sooner or later this would end up in the papers, and I would be out of a job.
- He is worried that sooner or later his business will fail.
- I'm sure Brian will turn up sooner or later.
- She's bound to find out sooner or later.
- I don't think you should go back to work too soon after having the baby.
- I knew it was too soon for any likely resolution of the problem.
- It's too soon to say what effect the merger will have on the company's 1500 employees
- Lendl hit the ball way too soon.
- You can't get married next week! That's far too soon.
- And not a minute too soon.
- He said it was too soon to tell whether more plans would leave Medicare despite the rising payments.
- However, it was published too soon to include the new Vi 2 Vanquish-a minor criticism.
- In Edinburgh I discovered all too soon that Sylvia Grey was not there either.
- It is probably too soon to know what effect the Rich case might have on his prospects in public life.
- The decision on a price was not a minute too soon.
- Absorbing Costs Self-defeating techniques yield consequences that most organizations would just as soon not deal with.
- After all, he delivers oil to you and would just as soon keep doing it.
- And a lot of them would just as soon not get this junk e-mail.
- And they would just as soon I was not there.
- Fiercely individualistic, Texas would just as soon give back the Alamo as institute a state tax.
- He would as soon not go.
- The dismissal of such people would stir up controversy the president would just as soon avoid.
- I came as soon as I heard the news.
- He reappeared as soon as the battlefield situation improved.
- I can't see any way out but a subscription list, to be organised as soon as possible.
- She had three husbands, the first with political aspirations whom the Democrats dumped as soon as she did.
- The hospitals rush these lower-paid workers on the hospital floor as soon as possible.
- The index then rose steadily during the recession itself, but fell as soon as the recovery got under way.
- There are still a few more places available if you are interested please send to the Office as soon as possible.
- We can arpeggio kids to bored distraction, and they will give up the instrument as soon as they can.
- Yet sentiments such as this were inevitable, as soon as politicians had agreed to make the monster Dome a public project.
- The sooner we get these bills paid off, the better.
- They knew they had to leave town, and the sooner the better.
- I'd just as soon ride with you, if that's okay.
- Absorbing Costs Self-defeating techniques yield consequences that most organizations would just as soon not deal with.
- After all, he delivers oil to you and would just as soon keep doing it.
- And a lot of them would just as soon not get this junk e-mail.
- And they would just as soon I was not there.
- Fiercely individualistic, Texas would just as soon give back the Alamo as institute a state tax.
- The dismissal of such people would stir up controversy the president would just as soon avoid.
- "Dinner's ready." "And not a moment too soon!"
- The ambulance finally arrived, not a moment too soon.
- It was not a moment too soon.
- A condition to be rectified as quickly as possible if she didn't want to be labelled a freak, or worse.
- Archibol was committed to relieving himself of the distraction of Isaac as quickly as possible.
- Experts do recommend that parents also put their babies in other positions as much as possible while awake.
- Preston avoided travelling by tube as much as possible, but sometimes it was forced upon him.
- Smokers, stop as quickly as possible and do not smoke in the presence of others.
- The food is freshly cooked using produce from the kitchen garden and local produce as much as possible.
- The Super Bowl was an outgrowth of the desire to take advantage of the merger as quickly as possible.
- Alas, no sooner had he started than he realised it was no longer what he wanted.
- But no sooner had Miriam gone than Harry suddenly returned looking more cheerful than one might have expected.
- No sooner had he gone than one of the cameramen approached.
- No sooner had it begun than the rain seemed to end.
It will be dark soon. David arrived sooner than I expected.soon after Paula became pregnant soon after they were married. ‘Who?’ ‘You’ll find out soon enough (=fairly soon).’2quickly: How soon can you finish the report? Try and get the car fixed as soon as possible.3as soon as immediately after something happens, without delay: As soon as she entered the room, she knew there was something wrong. I’ll come over to your place as soon as I can.4the sooner ( ... ) the better used to say that it is important that something should happen very soon: The sooner we get this job finished the better. Let’s get out of here! The sooner the better!5the sooner ... the sooner used to say that you want something to happen soon, so that something else can then happen: The sooner I get this work done, the sooner I can go home.6no sooner had/did ... than used to say that something happened almost immediately after something else: No sooner had he sat down than the phone rang.7sooner or later used to say that something is certain to happen at some time in the future, though you cannot be sure exactly when: His wife’s bound to find out sooner or later.8too soon too earlytoo soon to do something It’s still too soon to say whether the operation was a success. The holidays were over all too soon (=much earlier than you would like).9no sooner said than done used to say that you will do something immediately10not a moment too soon/none too soon almost too late: ‘The doctor’s here!’ ‘And not a moment too soon!’11somebody would sooner do something (than) if you would sooner do something, you would much prefer to do it, especially instead of something that seems unpleasant: I’d sooner die than marry you!12somebody would (just) as soon formal used to say that someone would prefer to do something or would prefer something to happen: I’d just as soon you didn’t drive the car while I’m gone.Grammar guide ‒ VERBSTHESAURUSsoon in a short time from now, or a short time after something else happens: · See you soon!· It seemed difficult at first, but I soon got used to it.in the near future in the next few weeks or months. In the near future is more formal than soon: · The book will be on sale in the near future.in no time (at all) very soon – used to talk about something good happening: · You’ll be feeling better in no time at all.· In no time at all, her son was starting to speak Japanese.in a minute spoken used to say that you will do something or something will happen within a few minutes: · I’ll be ready in a minute.· The film’s going to start in a minute.any minute now spoken used to say that something will or may happen very soon, but you do not know exactly when: · They should be here any minute now.any day now spoken used to say that something will or may happen in the next few days, but you do not know exactly when: · I’m hoping to hear from her any day now.shortly formal a short time from now: · They will be with us shortly.· the new laws that will shortly be coming into effectbefore long especially literary soon – used especially when something happens which you expected to happen: · They got married, and before long Anna was expecting a baby.it will not be long used when saying that something will happen soon: · It won’t be long before everything is back to normal.· I knew that it wouldn’t be long before the same thing happened again.