Word
soon
US/ˈsun/
UK/sˈuːn/
Adverb of time
Definitions
01in a short time
A1 · Beginner
adv. in a short time from now or after a specific event.
adv. within a short period of time after the present or after a previously mentioned point.
日本語:すぐ※
“The sun will set soon, so we should start walking back to the car.”
“The researchers expect to publish their preliminary findings soon, provided the final round of data verification proceeds without any technical delays.”
Pitfall
I will see you soonly.
I will see you soon.
'Soon' is already an adverb; do not add '-ly' to it.
Antonyms
02early
B2 · Upper Intermediate Dialect
adv. at an early time or before the expected time.
adv. at an early point in time; often used in specific regional dialects to mean 'early in the day'.
日本語:早く※
“He woke up soon this morning to finish his chores before the heat.”
“In certain rural communities, it is common to hear residents speak of rising soon to tend to the livestock before the sun is high.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03willingly
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adv. used with 'would' to show you prefer one thing over another.
adv. readily or willingly; almost exclusively used with the modal 'would' to express a preference.
“I would just as soon stay home as go to that loud party.”
“The director admitted he would just as soon cancel the project entirely than see his original vision compromised by budget cuts.”
Usage
Usually appears in the construction 'would just as soon'.
04happening in a short time
B1 · Intermediate
adj. happening or coming in a short time.
adj. occurring or arriving within a short interval; typically used in the phrase 'soon to be'.
“The soon-to-be bride spent the morning at the flower shop.”
“The soonest available appointment is next Tuesday, as the consultant is currently attending a conference abroad.”
Usage
Often functions as a predicative adjective or part of a compound modifier.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “soon” in context.
Etymology
From Middle English sone, from Old English sōna (“immediately, at once”), from Proto-West Germanic sān(ō), from Proto-Germanic sēna, sēnô (“immediately, soon, then”), from sa (demonstrative pronoun), from Proto-Indo-European *só (demonstrative pronoun). Cognate with Scots sone, sune, schone (“soon, quickly, at once”), North Frisian san (“immediately, at once”), dialectal Dutch zaan (“soon, before long”), Middle Low German sân (“right afterwards, soon”), Middle High German sān, son (“soon, then”), Old High German sār (“immediately, soon”). Compare also Gothic 𐍃𐌿𐌽𐍃 (suns, “immediately, soon”), from Proto-Germanic *suniz (“soon”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Idioms
01. any time soon
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- A1 · BeginnerOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/soon
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0