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 First, if the president wants to have any hope of winning either the House of Representatives or the Senate, the war has to end soon. — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 4 Oct. 2026 She was born Caryn Johnson, but soon took on Goldberg when pursuing acting. — Giovana Gelhoren, InStyle, 4 Oct. 2026 This is also figuring that Warners unleashes Digger on Premium VOD soon and does a decent number relative to the box office because people are curious. — Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 4 Oct. 2026 Nearby residents soon became incensed about the prospect of massive concerts that could funnel sound into their backyards. — Shun Graves, Chicago Tribune, 4 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
  • Samuel, or Samuil in Bulgarian, was a warrior emperor who battled the Byzantine Empire to expand his kingdom but was ultimately defeated and died shortly afterward in 1014.
    — COSTAS KANTOURIS, Arkansas Online, 4 Oct. 2026
  • He was taken to a hospital with serious facial injuries but died shortly afterward, according to TASS.
    — Arina Porkhovnik, CNN Money, 3 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
  • Ruerup quickly rose through the ranks at Oxxford, gaining experience with everything from product and design to marketing and technology.
    — Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 5 Oct. 2026
  • As the most lethal and airborne variant of the infection, pneumonic plague is nearly always fatal unless specific antibiotics are given quickly.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of quickly
Adverb
  • 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
  • In the vlog, Combs noted that his main goal for the hunting trip was to shoot, preferably with a bow, and tag a mature elk.
    — Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 1 Oct. 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
  • Authorities swiftly placed around 200 people under strict medical observation.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 5 Oct. 2026
  • However, Jim is sticking with CEO Ernie Herrman, who promised on TJX's post-earnings call that fixes were swiftly put in place and already starting to bear fruit in the current quarter.
    — Natasha Abellard, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of swiftly
Adverb
  • After things go awry in the Congo, the family in The Poisonwood Bible dissolves readily.
    — Sam Worley, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
  • For his part, Khrushchev readily admitted to such behavior in his memoirs, likening his noisy antics to those of revolutionary protesters in the Duma, an imperial Russian legislative body.
    — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 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 8 Oct. 2026.

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