pronunciation note: Usually pronounced (soʊ) for meanings [sense 1], , [sense 6], , [sense 7], , [sense 8], , [sense 9], , [sense 16] and , [sense 17].
1. adverb [ADVERB after verb]
You use so to refer back to something that has just been mentioned.
'Do you think that made much of a difference to the family?'—'I think so.'
If you can't play straight, then say so.
'Is he the kind of man who can be as flexible as he needs to be?'—' Well, I hopeso.'
2. adverb
You use so when you are saying that something which has just been said about one person or thing is also true of another one.
I enjoy Ann's company and so does Martin.
They had a wonderful time and so did I.
The police arrived, and so did reporters and a photographer from the 'Journal'.
3. conjunction
You use the structures as...so and just as...so when you want to indicate that two events or situations are similar in some way.
As computer systems become more sophisticated, so too do the methods of those whoexploit the technology.
Just as John has changed, so has his wife.
Just as the teacher leads in the classroom, so does the headteacher play a leadershiprole in the school.
4. adverb [v-link ADV]
If you say that a state of affairs is so, you mean that it is the way it has been described.
Gold has been a poor investment over the past 20 years, and will continue to be so.
In those days English dances were taught at school, but that seems no longer to beso.
It is strange to think that he held strong views, but it must have been so.
5. adverb [ADVERB after verb]
You can use so with actions and gestures to show a person how to do something, or to indicate the size, height, or length of something.
Clasp the chain like so.
...holding the champagne glass with long red nails positioned just so.
6. conjunction
You use so and so that to introduce the result of the situation you have just mentioned.
I am not an emotional type and so cannot bring myself to tell him I love him.
Duvet covers are usually made from cotton, so they can be easily washed.
I was an only child, and so had no experience of large families.
There was snow everywhere, so that the shape of things was difficult to identify.
7. conjunction
You use so, so that, and so as to introduce the reason for doing the thing that you have just mentioned.
Come to my suite so I can tell you all about this wonderful play I saw in Boston.
He took her arm and hurried her upstairs so that they wouldn't be overheard.
I was beginning to feel alarm, but kept it to myself so as not to worry our two friends.
8. adverb
You can use so in stories and accounts to introduce the next event in a series of events or to suggest a connection between two events.
The woman asked if he could perhaps mend her fences, and so he stayed.
She was free for five whole days, from Christmas Eve. And so she would be going toCharles, to join her family.
I thought, 'Here's someone who'll understand me.' So I wrote to her.
He said he'd like to meet Sharon. So I said all right.
And so Christmas passed.
9. adverb
You can use so in conversations to introduce a new topic, or to introduce a question or comment about something that has been said.
So how was your day?
So you're a runner, huh?
So as for your question, Miles, the answer still has to be no.
So, as I said to you, natural medicine is also known as holistic medicine.
And so, to answer your question, that's why your mother is disappointed.
'I didn't find him funny at all.'—'So you won't watch the show again then?'
They cost a fortune so how have these motorbikes become a fashion statement?
10. adverb
You can use so in conversations to show that you are accepting what someone has just said.
'It makes me feel, well, important.'—'And so you are.'
'You can't possibly use this word.'—'So I won't.'.
'You know who Diana was, Grandfather.'—'So I do!'
'Why, this is nothing but common vegetable soup!'—'So it is, madam.'
'The car, Annie,' said Max rather grimly.—'So okay, the car. What about it?'
11. convention
You say 'So?' and 'So what?' to indicate that you think that something that someone has said is unimportant.
[informal]
'My name's Bruno.'—'So?'
'You take a chance on the weather if you holiday in the U.K.'—'So what?'
I enjoy someone telling me I'm wonderful, but part of me thinks, 'So what? You won'tsay that tomorrow.'
12. adverb [ADVERB adjective/adverb]
You can use so in front of adjectives and adverbs to emphasize the quality that they are describing.
[emphasis]
'I am so afraid,' Francis thought.
He was surprised they had married–they had seemed so different.
What is so compromising about being an employee of the state?
13. adverb [ADV adj that]
You can use so...that and so...as to emphasize the degree of something by mentioning the result or consequence of it.
[emphasis]
The tears were streaming so fast she could not see.
The deal seems so attractive it would be ridiculous to say no.
Frescoes are so familiar a feature of Italian churches that it is easy to take themfor granted.
He's not so daft as to listen to rumours.
14. See also insofar as
15.
See and so on
16.
See so much/so many
17.
See not so much
18.
See or so
19. so much the better
20. ever so
21. so far so good
22. so long
23. so much for
24. so much so
25. every so often
26. so there
More Synonyms of so
so in British English1
(səʊ)
adverb
1. (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
2. (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
3.
(intensifier)
it's so lovely
I love you so
4.
in the state or manner expressed or implied
they're happy and will remain so
5. (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
6. informal
indeed: used to contradict a negative statement
You didn't tell the truth. I did so!
7. archaic
provided that
8. and so on
9. just so
10. or so
11. quite so
12. so be it
13. so much
14. so much for
conjunction(subordinating; often foll by that)
15.
in order (that)
to die so that you might live
16.
with the consequence (that)
he was late home, so that there was trouble
17. so as
sentence connector
18.
in consequence; hence
she wasn't needed, so she left
19.
used to introduce a sentence expressing resignation, amazement, or sarcasm
so you're publishing a book!
20.
thereupon; and then
and so we ended up in France
21.
used to introduce a sentence or clause to add emphasis
he's crazy, so he is
22. so what!
pronoun
23.
used to substitute for a clause or sentence, which may be understood
you'll stop because I said so
adjective
24. (used withis, was, etc)
factual; true
it can't be so
exclamation
25.
an exclamation of agreement, surprise, etc
▶ USAGE In formal English, so is not used as a conjunction, to indicate either purpose (he left by a back door so he could avoid photographers) or result (the project was abandoned so his services were no longer needed). In the former case to or in order to should be used instead, and in the latter case and so or and therefore would be more acceptable. The expression so therefore should not be used
Word origin
Old English swā; related to Old Norse svā, Old High German sō, Dutch zoo
so in British English2
(səʊ)
noun
music a variant spelling of soh
so in British English3
the internet domain name for
Somalia
SO in British English
abbreviation for
1.
significant other: often used in social media
2.
Somalia (international car registration)
S.O. in British English
baseball
abbreviation for
strike out
strike out in British English
verb(adverb)
1. (transitive)
to remove or erase
2. (intransitive)
to start out or begin
to strike out on one's own
3. baseball
to put out or be put out on strikes
4. (intransitive) US and Canadian informal
to fail utterly
SO in American English
strikeout(s)
so in American English1
(soʊ)
adverb
1.
in the way or manner shown, expressed, indicated, understood, etc.; as stated ordescribed; in such a manner
hold the bat just so
2.
a.
to the degree expressed or understood; to such an extent
why are you so late?
b.
to an unspecified but limited degree, amount, number, etc.
to go so far and no further
c.
to a very high degree; very
they are so happy
d. Informal
very much
she so wants to go
3.
for the reason specified; therefore
they were tired, and so left
4.
more or less; approximately that number, amount, etc.
in this sense, so is often regarded as a pronoun
fifty dollars or so
5.
also; likewise [she enjoys music, and so does he]
also used colloquially in contradicting a negative statement [I did so tell the truth!]
6.
then
and so to bed
conjunction
7.
in order that; with the purpose that
usually followed by that
talk louder so (that) everyone can hear
8.
with the result that; because of this
she smiled, so I did too
9. Archaic
if only; as long as; provided (that)
pronoun
10.
that which has been specified or named
they are friends and will remain so
11. see so1 (sense 4)
interjection
12.
used to express surprise, approval or disapproval, triumph, etc.
adjective
13.
true; in reality
that's so
14.
in proper order
everything must be just so
Idioms:
and so on
so as
so much
so much for
so what?
Word origin
ME so, swo < OE swa, so, as, akin to Goth swa, OHG so < IE base *se-, *swe-, refl. particle
so in American English2
(soʊ)
noun
Music
sol2
so in American English3
1.
south
2.
southern
Examples of 'so' in a sentence
so
I wondered why Jarawa's fate suddenly seemed so important to Christian, when his wife had just died.
Hugo Wilcken THE EXECUTION (2002)
Without waiting for a reply, she sat down in Christian's seat and leant towards me so that her knees almost touched mine.
Hugo Wilcken THE EXECUTION (2002)
I idly flicked through the pages for half an hour or so then gave up.
Hugo Wilcken THE EXECUTION (2002)
The standard is low for the Commonwealth, so there's no way you're gonna win.
Lisa Scottoline RUNNING FROM THE LAW (2001)
Word lists with
so
text messaging, international car registration letters, internet, abbreviations and symbols
In other languages
so
British English: so /səʊ/ ADVERB
referring to something already mentioned You use so to talk about something without repeating the same words.
If you don't like it, then say so.
American English: so
Arabic: كَذَلِكَ
Brazilian Portuguese: isso
Chinese: 这样
Croatian: tako
Czech: tak
Danish: sådan
Dutch: zo
European Spanish: tan
Finnish: niin
French: ainsi
German: so
Greek: το
Italian: così
Japanese: そんなに
Korean: 그와 같이
Norwegian: så
Polish: tak
European Portuguese: isso
Romanian: așa
Russian: так
Latin American Spanish: también, lo mismo reemplaza clásula, frase, palabra
Swedish: så
Thai: เช่นนั้น
Turkish: öylesine
Ukrainian: так
Vietnamese: đến mức
British English: so /səʊ/ CONJUNCTION
You use so and so that to talk about the reason for doing something.
They went outside so that nobody would hear them.
American English: so
Arabic: وَهَكَذَا
Brazilian Portuguese: portanto
Chinese: 同样
Croatian: kako
Czech: aby
Danish: så
Dutch: zodat
European Spanish: de manera que
Finnish: jotta
French: pour
German: damit
Greek: ώστε
Italian: perciò
Japanese: ･･･するために
Korean: 그래서
Norwegian: slik (at)
Polish: tak
European Portuguese: portanto
Romanian: astfel încât
Russian: поэтому
Latin American Spanish: de manera que
Swedish: så
Thai: เพื่อว่า
Turkish: öyle ki
Ukrainian: щоб
Vietnamese: vì vậy
British English: so /səʊ/ ADVERB
very You can use so in front of adjectives and adverbs to make them stronger.
They're friends, but they seem so different!
American English: so
Arabic: جِدّاً
Brazilian Portuguese: tão
Chinese: 非常的
Croatian: tako
Czech: tak
Danish: så
Dutch: zo
European Spanish: tan
Finnish: niin
French: sitellement
German: sonst
Greek: τόσο
Italian: così
Japanese: とても
Korean: 너무나
Norwegian: så
Polish: taki
European Portuguese: tão
Romanian: așa de
Russian: настолько
Latin American Spanish: tan
Swedish: så
Thai: มาก
Turkish: çok
Ukrainian: такий
Vietnamese: quá
(sentence connector)
Definition
in consequence
Everyone joked about us, so we had to show them we were serious.