soon

 
Pronunciation: /suːn/

adverb

  • 1in or after a short time: everyone will soon know the truth he’ll be home soon they arrived soon after 7.30
  • early: how soon can you get here? it’s a pity you have to leave so soon I wish you’d told me sooner it was too soon to know
  • 2used to indicate one’s preference in a particular matter: I’d just as soon Tim did it I’d sooner stay where I am

Phrases

no sooner —— than

used to convey that the second event mentioned happens immediately after the first: she had no sooner spoken than the telephone rang

sooner or later

at some future time; eventually: you’ll have to tell him sooner or later

sooner rather than later

before much time has gone by: I would be grateful if you would come to your senses sooner rather than later

Derivatives

soonish

adverb

Origin:

Old English sōna 'immediately', of West Germanic origin

In standard English the phrase no sooner is followed by than, as in we had no sooner arrived than we had to leave. This is because sooner is a comparative, and comparatives are followed by than ( earlier than; better than, and so on). It is incorrect to follow no sooner with when rather than than, as in we had no sooner arrived when we had to leave.