soon

adverb

ˈsün How to pronounce soon (audio)
Definition of soonnext
1
as in shortly
at or within a short time we'll be done soon

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in rather
by choice or preference I'd sooner have a cavity filled than suffer through that opera again

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in quickly
with great speed as soon as possible

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of soon Parton soon had a performing career, singing on local radio and TV shows. — Deborah Wilker, HollywoodReporter, 25 Aug. 2026 Tracy will likely work to give some days off down the stretch to Wilyer Abreu and Ceddanne Rafaela with Duran, White, Jones and soon Anthony in the mix. — Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 But Eric became suspicious and soon figured out a party was in the works. — Kelsey Monstrola, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026 The staff would have to begin to go even sooner than the shareholders; Fried Frank, in its presentation, estimated between $20 and $24 million in severance and $75 million in union termination. — Noah Shachtman, Vanity Fair, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for soon
Recent Examples of Synonyms for soon
  1. shortly
  2. rather
  3. quickly
  4. preferably
  5. rapidly
  6. willingly
  7. swiftly
  8. readily
Adverb
  • In 2018, shortly before her passing, Mason laid the groundwork for what would become the Emily Mason | Alice Trumbull Mason Foundation.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Daniels later pleaded guilty to assault and was shipped off to prison, but shortly before he was released in early 2018, he was transferred to Queensboro Correctional Facility in Long Island City and signed up for a prison college course.
    — Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of shortly
Adverb
  • The perfect site in the crystal A crystal may only look like a piece of glass, but building the right one with a perfect site is rather difficult.
    — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 21 Aug. 2026
  • But over the last couple of seasons, Premier League goalkeepers have been… actually rather good.
    — Michael Cox, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of rather
Adverb
  • Some come so quickly that there’s barely time to process how they were accomplished.
    — Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Besides faulty lactose digestion, nonwhite bodies were accused of other failures, too, such as aldehyde dehydrogenase deficiency, an inability to digest alcohol quickly.
    — Hilary Smith, The Conversation, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of quickly
Adverb
  • Store firewood neatly, preferably elevated and away from the house, and clear clutter that could shelter rodents.
    — Rachel Silva, Martha Stewart, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The filling sets in the fridge for at least four hours, but preferably overnight.
    — Jesse Szewczyk, Bon Appetit Magazine, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of preferably
Adverb
  • The blaze had grown rapidly through the day, driven by gusty winds, low humidity and dry brush.
    — Martin Goillandeau, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026
  • The episode illustrated the advantages and dangers of the rapidly developing technology—and what business leaders can learn from using AI to help manage a business crisis.
    — Edward Segal, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of rapidly
Adverb
  • If Gluck has willingly conceded to the anti-erotic proclivities of his intended audience, Araki has, naturally, set out to defy them.
    — Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Summary Early healthcare software was willingly adopted for its usefulness, unlike Electronic Health Records (EHRs) which required government mandates and billions in incentives for widespread implementation.
    — Forbes.com, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of willingly
Adverb
  • The additional personnel — and coordination with Fever, league and arena security and the Chicago Police Department — made Alter feel confident the team could intervene swiftly if Kanter Freedom crossed a line.
    — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026
  • He was acquitted in 2020, but was swiftly rearrested on charges linking him to Turkey’s 2016 coup attempt.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of swiftly
Adverb
  • Still, Shackelford said more lawyers are able to work with immigrants on their bond hearings than with the habeas cases challenging mandatory detention, making help more readily available.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Still, Watts offered a generous heap of the powder to Sinclair, who readily accepted.
    — Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of readily

Phrases Containing soon

Browse Nearby Words

sons of man
soon
sooner or later
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Soon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soon. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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