sooner or later

adverb

Synonyms of sooner or laternext
: at some uncertain future time : sometime

Examples of sooner or later in a Sentence

sooner or later, the police are going to track down the burglar
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
One false move can lead to trouble, and it hap-pens sooner or later to just about everybody who handles these reptiles. Dr. C. E. Kuschel, Outdoor Life, 9 Apr. 2026 It was bound to happen sooner or later. Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 9 Apr. 2026 So, sooner or later, there are going to be 18 games. Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026 That this idyll is bound to expire, sooner or later, goes without saying. Jake Coyle, Boston Herald, 3 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sooner or later

Word History

First Known Use

1577, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sooner or later was in 1577

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Cite this Entry

“Sooner or later.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sooner%20or%20later. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.

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