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 Those results are still being analyzed and are expected to be published soon. — Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 18 Oct. 2026 One of them, two of them’s gonna come up and get a big hit for us here soon. — Marc Topkin, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 Oct. 2026 Because the fabric maintains a stable warmer environment and essentially acts like a small climate-control system, covered strawberry plants reached the fruiting stage sooner. — Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 17 Oct. 2026 First-time buyers made up just 21% of home purchases in the National Association of Realtors’ latest annual survey, a record low, and Zillow’s CEO doesn’t expect that to change soon. — Bilin Lin, Fortune, 12 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
  • Israeli troops arrived shortly before the attack, which seemed to embolden the settlers, Khrzhanovskiy said.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Surveillance video shows 24-year-old Joshua Flores walking along Western Avenue with a machete shortly before his arrest.
    — Logan Hall, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of shortly
Adverb
  • Some groups have also emphasized that public health officials should lead not with conversations about an individual child’s risk or potential benefit from vaccines, but rather the vaccines’ impact on society overall.
    — Nicholas Florko, STAT, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Teddy bears and trains, baseballs and dolls dance through the air into Santa's enormous sack, which sits at Santa's feet, or rather Harry's, who is perched high on the throne at the back of the float, magnificent in white whiskers and red velvet.
    — Danielle Parker, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of rather
Adverb
  • After a weak showing in Iowa, Ramaswamy ended his campaign and quickly folded into the broader MAGA-verse.
    — Philip Elliott, Time, 19 Oct. 2026
  • And as the most recent press secretary found out, you can be fired from the position just as quickly as you were hired.
    — Chandelis Duster, NPR, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of quickly
Adverb
  • The present ideal isn’t perfection, but a kind of rule-breaking individualism, preferably with an IYKYK spin.
    — Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 14 Oct. 2026
  • 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
Definition of preferably
Adverb
  • Future quantum applications The team sees potential applications in electronics that consume less power and switch states rapidly.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Foot-and-mouth disease spreads rapidly among livestock and can force mass culling, movement restrictions, and trade disruptions.
    — Robert Kelly, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of rapidly
Adverb
  • Carney remembered Goulding as someone who willingly took on difficult challenges, and Wong as someone his family could always depend on.
    — Rob Gillies, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
  • 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
Definition of willingly
Adverb
  • Still, when the measles outbreak erupted, Bangladesh responded swiftly and initially seemed to be winning the battle.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Illinois reacted swiftly to the boys’ arrest for Morse’s murder, enacting a new law that lowered the age to 10 from 13 at which offenders could be sentenced to prison.
    — Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of swiftly
Adverb
  • Flexibility is key to the design; almost half of the building is devoted to a multipurpose space that can be readily subdivided into two identically sized spaces.
    — Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Then came Fuller’s abrupt departure, a writers strike, and a showrunner shuffle, all of which seem to have contributed to an identity crisis that’s readily apparent in the current version of Crystal Lake.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 15 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 23 Oct. 2026.

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