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 Marella Agnelli shared a spread with the teen-age basketball phenom Lew Alcindor (soon to be known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar). — Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2026 Lewis is being held without bail and will be arraigned soon, Krasner said. — Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2026 Now, the full-scale deployment of the ClarosTechUV PFAS destruction system is soon to take place at Daikin’s manufacturing facility in Decatur. — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 5 Oct. 2026 Vance has held rallies in states ranging from Iowa to Kansas and soon-to-be Alaska, touting Republicans’ tax cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and railing against socialist candidates within the Democratic Party. — Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 5 Oct. 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
  • This came shortly before South Carolina (3-3, 1-3 Southeastern Conference) determined 38-19 was a suitable-enough beating.
    — Noah White, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Houthi attacks on Thursday and earlier in the week had already prompted a number of carriers to suspend or cancel services to the Saudi capital, shortly before Riyadh is due to host major energy and investment conferences.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of shortly
Adverb
  • But just moments later, as the name of lead star Andrew Scott appeared on stage, the loud snuffles were replaced with whoops and, in rather uncharacteristically British style, a standing ovation for the actor.
    — Alex Ritman, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026
  • This is the man who made the two-and-a-half-hour, stream-of-consciousness passion project Bardo (2022), after all, which several critics also found rather abrasive and self-indulgent.
    — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of rather
Adverb
  • Therefore, additional heavy rain may quickly create new areas of flooding and cause previous areas of flooding to redevelop.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 11 Oct. 2026
  • One short clip that quickly circulated on social media showed Stamos urging Love to do some hand gestures from his seat, and the Beach Boys’ mainstay gamely complying, but without much apparent energy, before going back to sitting in place.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of quickly
Adverb
  • Pneumonic plague is treated with powerful antibiotics, preferably within 24 hours of the first symptoms, the Cleveland Clinic said.
    — Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The advice is nearly always the same — wait until after midnight, preferably until the hours before dawn, then give your eyes half an hour to adjust to the darkness.
    — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of preferably
Adverb
  • In Congress, crypto companies are pushing for market-structure rules, AI firms are battling over how Washington will regulate their rapidly expanding industry, and sports-betting operators are confronting regulatory fights.
    — Luke Fountain, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The storm could rapidly intensify in those conditions, but forecasters said a blockade of storm-shredding wind shear near the coast could slow it slightly before landfall.
    — Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of rapidly
Adverb
  • The film’s central question, as Coon sees it, is why someone might willingly abandon a conventional life for an alternative community.
    — Katherine Brodsky, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026
  • For some activists, willingly accepting arrest becomes another visible demonstration of commitment.
    — Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of willingly
Adverb
  • Police maintained a heavy security presence at Saturday’s demonstration and moved swiftly to crack down on the unrest.
    — Ayushi Shah, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2026
  • City leaders reacted immediately, saying the revelations about the department’s culture were unacceptable and pledging to swiftly investigate and root out the systemic racism.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of swiftly
Adverb
  • The four-year program is designed to prep students for a myriad of fields — modern theme park design firms work not only on new attractions but readily contribute to museums, zoos, immersive marketing events and more.
    — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Many of the atoll's reefs have since recovered, but some didn't bounce back as readily.
    — Lauren Sommer, NPR, 13 Oct. 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 14 Oct. 2026.

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