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 Category 5 Hurricane Polo will impact Baja California early next week, and splash New Mexico and western Texas with drenching rains soon after. — Sean MacAday, Sacbee.com, 27 Sep. 2026 These days, much of the area planned for the projects aren’t much but grass and concrete where buildings once stood — but that is expected to change soon. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Sep. 2026 Now, the taqueria, which has held on to its homemade flavors for the past 60 years, will soon disappear, too. — Laura Rodríguez Presa, Chicago Tribune, 26 Sep. 2026 If the soon-to-be iconic Alex Mill tote isn’t in your budget, don’t stress. — Jordan Julian, InStyle, 26 Sep. 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
  • The La Verne blaze began shortly before noon Tuesday inside one of four 250-kilowatt-battery containers at the Metropolitan Water District’s facility on Wheeler Avenue, according to the La Verne Fire Department.
    — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Chris Lindstrom didn’t have any lines rehearsed or even a direction planned for his pregame speech when the Falcons surrounded him shortly before kickoff Thursday night at Lambeau Field.
    — Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of shortly
Adverb
  • Twelve AGs led by Rob Bonta of California had been moving the antitrust trust case forward with a trial date set for March before the sides came together rather suddenly over the course of a few days.
    — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Your neighbor merely moved up the timeline in a rather inept way.
    — Judith Martin, Washington Post, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of rather
Adverb
  • The ceasefire quickly unraveled, and the 60-day deadline passed last month with no breakthroughs.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 28 Sep. 2026
  • The father-daughter pair embraced as Verlander started to cry, and the crowd quickly rose to their feet for a standing ovation.
    — Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of quickly
Adverb
  • Then fold the quilt up for putting back in storage—preferably in a different configuration so the quilt doesn’t develop creases.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Now at 65, Eaton wants a larger full-time home with more space, preferably in a New York City suburb.
    — Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of preferably
Adverb
  • All are alleged to have sent investors fake account statements and communications claiming their investments were either safe and sound or growing rapidly.
    — Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The seconds-long loop consists of a purple image of a tank silhouette moving rapidly across the picture plane and patterned with what resemble dithered approximations of analog video interference.
    — Simon Denny, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of rapidly
Adverb
  • Council member Dale Reynolds, who first made the motion to approve the ordinance, questioned whether there was any incentive for the public to willingly register their bikes.
    — Noah Daly, Idaho Statesman, 23 Sep. 2026
  • The front end simply carves into turns with the slightest shift of body position, leaning over willingly enough to eliminate conscious thought and hesitation right out of the gate.
    — Michael Van Runkle, Robb Report, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of willingly
Adverb
  • Some are condemned swiftly and harshly, others are shrugged off almost entirely.
    — Matt Calkins OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Investment firms have swiftly raised price targets for Meta, as the company now has a compelling new narrative to pitch to Wall Street.
    — , CNBC, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of swiftly
Adverb
  • Officers noted no readily accessible food or water for the animal.
    — Anna McAllister, Miami Herald, 29 Sep. 2026
  • When the frame is filled with white skies and snow, the picture can look dim compared with other shots, though highlight details like wisps of clouds and falling snowflakes against all that white can be readily seen.
    — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 28 Sep. 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 2 Oct. 2026.

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