Word Study
soon
CIDE DICTIONARY
soon, adv. [OE. sone, AS. s; cf. OFries. s, OS. sāna, sāno, OHG. sār, Goth. suns.].
- In a short time; shortly after any time specified or supposed; as, soon after sunrise. [1913 Webster]"She finished, and the subtle fiend his lore
Soon learned." [1913 Webster] - Without the usual delay; before any time supposed; early. [1913 Webster]"How is it that ye are come so soon to-day?" [1913 Webster]
- Promptly; quickly; easily. [1913 Webster]"Small lights are soon blown out, huge fires abide." [1913 Webster]
- Readily; willingly; -- in this sense used with would, or some other word expressing will. [1913 Webster]"I would as soon see a river winding through woods or in meadows, as when it is tossed up in so many whimsical figures at Versailles." [1913 Webster]
soon, a.
Speedy; quick. Shak. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
soon, adv.
1 after no long interval of time (shall soon know the result).
2 relatively early (must you go so soon?).
3 (prec. by how) early (with relative rather than distinctive sense) (how soon will it be ready?).
4 readily or willingly (in expressing choice or preference: which would you sooner do?; would as soon stay behind).
1 after no long interval of time (shall soon know the result).
2 relatively early (must you go so soon?).
3 (prec. by how) early (with relative rather than distinctive sense) (how soon will it be ready?).
4 readily or willingly (in expressing choice or preference: which would you sooner do?; would as soon stay behind).
Idiom
as (or so) soon as (implying a causal or temporal connection) at the moment that; not later than; as early as (came as soon as I heard about it; disappears as soon as it's time to pay). no sooner ... than at the very moment that (we no sooner arrived than the rain stopped). sooner or later at some future time; eventually.
Derivative
soonish adv.
Etymology
OE sona f. WG
THESAURUS
soon
after a time, after a while, afterward, afterwards, anon, at bottom, at once, before long, betimes, by and by, by destiny, directly, ere long, eventually, expeditiously, fatally, forthwith, gladly, happily, hastily, hopefully, immediately, imminently, in a jiffy, in a moment, in a second, in a while, in a wink, in aftertime, in due course, in due time, in good time, in short order, in the future, in time, instantly, later, lickety-split, lief, momentarily, on the double, one day, oversoon, posthaste, predictably, premature, presently, previous, probably, promptly, pronto, proximo, quick, quickly, rapidly, readily, right away, seasonably, shortly, sooner or later, speedily, straightway, swiftly, timely, tomorrow, tout de suite, ultimately, untimely, willingly, without delayROGET THESAURUS
soon
Transientness
N transience, transientness, evanescence, impermanence, fugacity, caducity, mortality, span, nine days' wonder, bubble, Mayfly, spurt, flash in the pan, temporary arrangement, interregnum, velocity, suddenness, changeableness, transient, transient boarder, transient guest, transient, transitory, transitive, passing, evanescent, fleeting, cursory, short-lived, ephemeral, flying, fugacious, fugitive, shifting, slippery, spasmodic, instantaneous, momentaneous, temporal, temporary, provisional, provisory, deciduous, perishable, mortal, precarious, unstable, insecure, impermanent, brief, quick, brisk, extemporaneous, summary, pressed for time, sudden, momentary, temporarily, pro tempore, for the moment, for a time, awhile, en passant, in transitu, in a short time, soon, briefly, at short notice, on the point of, on the eve of, in articulo, between cup and lip, one's days are numbered, the time is up, here today and gone tomorrow, non semper erit aestas, eheu! fugaces labuntur anni, sic transit gloria mundi, a schoolboy's tale, the wonder of the hour!, dum loquimur fugerit invidia aetas, fugit hora, all that is transitory is but an illusion.Futurity
N futurity, futurition, future, hereafter, time to come, approaching time, coming time, subsequent time, after time, approaching age, coming age, subsequent age, after age, approaching days, coming days, subsequent days, after days, approaching hours, coming hours, subsequent hours, after hours, approaching ages, coming ages, subsequent ages, after ages, approaching life, coming life, subsequent life, after life, approaching years, coming years, subsequent years, after years, morrow, millennium, doomsday, day of judgment, crack of doom, remote future, approach of time advent, time drawing on, womb of time, destiny, eventuality, heritage, heirs posterity, prospect, foresight, future, to come, coming, next, near, close at hand, eventual, ulterior, in prospect, prospectively, hereafter, in future, kal, tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, in course of time, in process of time, in the fullness of time, eventually, ultimately, sooner or later, proximo, paulo post futurum, in after time, one of these days, after a time, after a while, from this time, henceforth, henceforwards, thence, thenceforth, thenceforward, whereupon, upon which, soon, on the eve of, on the point of, on the brink of, about to, close upon, quid sit futurum cras fuge quaerere.Earliness
N earliness, morning, punctuality, promptitude, haste, suddenness, prematurity, precocity, precipitation, anticipation, a stitch in time, early, prime, forward, prompt, summary, premature, precipitate, precocious, prevenient, anticipatory, rath, sudden, unexpected, near, near at hand, immediate, early, soon, anon, betimes, rath, eft, eftsoons, ere long, before long, shortly, beforehand, prematurely, precipitately, too soon, before its time, before one's time, in anticipation, unexpectedly, suddenly, before one can say 'Jack Robinson', at short notice, extempore, on the spur of the moment, on the spur of the occasion, at once, on the spot, on the instant, at sight, offhand, out of hand, a' vue d'oeil, straight, straightway, straightforth, forthwith, incontinently, summarily, immediately, briefly, shortly, quickly, speedily, apace, before the ink is dry, almost immediately, presently at the first opportunity, in no long time, by and by, in a while, directly, no sooner said than done, immediately, if not sooner, tout vient a temps pour qui sait attendre.For further exploring for "soon" in Webster Dictionary Online
