sooner; soonest
1
a
: at a time that is not long from now
We will soon be making changes.
I'll see you soon.
The soonest I can get there is tomorrow.
When is the soonest possible date of delivery?
We'll find out the answer soon enough. [=we'll find out the answer soon]
We need to fix this problem sooner rather than later. [=we need to fix this problem soon]
b
: in a short time after something happens
The audience soon realized that it wasn't a stunt.
She found a job soon after graduation.
Please give me a call as soon as you get there. [=give me a call immediately when you get there]
I had no sooner walked through the door when the phone rang. = No sooner did I walk through the door than the phone rang. [=the phone rang immediately after I walked through the door]
I told them we needed more copies. No sooner said than done. [=they immediately gave us more copies]
2
: in a quick way : quickly
How soon can you finish the job?
The sooner you finish your homework, the sooner you can go outside and play.
I will let you know as soon as possible.
I'll get there as soon as I can.
The sooner [=more quickly] we get the pipe fixed, the better. = We need to get the pipe fixed, the sooner the better.
Cite this Entry
“Soon.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/soon. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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