# ASAP

/ˈeɪˈɛˈseɪˈpi/ (US) · /ˌeɪˌɛsˌeɪpˈiː/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/asap
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. as soon as possible

adverb · CEFR B1 · Informal

Stands for As Soon As Possible. It means you want something to happen right away or at the earliest time someone can do it.

For teachers: Abbreviation for As Soon As Possible. Used to denote urgency, requesting that a task be completed at the earliest opportunity.

- Please send me the report ASAP because the meeting starts in ten minutes.
- The client requested that the revised contract be delivered ASAP to ensure the project remains on schedule for the quarterly launch.

Usage: Can be pronounced as individual letters (A-S-A-P) or as a single word ('ay-sap').

Teaching tip: While common in business emails, it can sometimes sound demanding or rude; 'at your earliest convenience' is a more polite alternative for formal writing.

## Examples

- Please call me back ASAP.
- The manager requested that the sales reports be submitted ASAP so the team could prepare for the meeting.
- While the client requested the revisions ASAP, the design team insisted on a forty-eight-hour window to ensure the quality of the final renders remained high.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.