as in shortly
at or within a short time
the painters ought to be done before long
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of before long
The 20-year-old is currently around Spurs’ first-team squad, covering for long-term injury absentee Radu Dragusin, but will likely head out on loan before long.
—
Tim Spiers, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2026
However, before long, the tradition was reportedly taken over by the less wealthy as a way of making fun of the upper classes.
—Fiona Ward, Glamour, 31 Dec. 2025
Eventually, her photos attracted interest from film directors, and before long Bardot was thrust into the French cinema scene.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Dec. 2025
But before long, the plan goes horribly out of control, leaving a trail of dead bodies along the way.
—Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 15 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for before long
Tim Spiers, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2026
However, before long, the tradition was reportedly taken over by the less wealthy as a way of making fun of the upper classes.
—Fiona Ward, Glamour, 31 Dec. 2025
Eventually, her photos attracted interest from film directors, and before long Bardot was thrust into the French cinema scene.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Dec. 2025
But before long, the plan goes horribly out of control, leaving a trail of dead bodies along the way.
—Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 15 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for before long
Recent Examples of Synonyms for before long
Adverb
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Another speaker, Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen, spoke about his father’s family experience during the Holocaust when they were imprisoned at the Bergen-Belson concentration camp — the same one where Anne Frank died shortly before liberation.—
Sal Pizarro,
Mercury News,
26 Jan. 2026
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The Jackson County Public Library posted a statement on Facebook Sunday evening, shortly before the sheriff announced Morrow's arrest.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Adverb
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The scammer claims to be on an oil rig or in a war zone (but rotating home soon) or is otherwise unreachable in person.—
Abigail Van Buren,
Arkansas Online,
1 Feb. 2026
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But with the World Cup and Olympics coming soon — events that will require coordination with the feds — the chief has been choosing his words carefully.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Before long.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/before%20long. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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