so
15 synonyms for so, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adv — To a great or specified extent; very.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use so
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
so far
so much
so what
Etymology
This word came into English via Middle English so, swo, zuo, swa, swe, from Old English swā, swǣ, swē ("so, as, the same, such, that"), from Proto-West Germanic *swā, from Proto-Germanic *swa, *swē ("so"), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *swē, *swō (a reflexive pronominal stem). It is cognate with Scots sae ("so"),...
Full origin of so →Frequently asked questions
What does “so” mean?
The word “so” means to a great or specified extent; very. In plain terms, one of the most common small words in English — used to intensify ("so tired"), to show a result ("so we left"), or just to open a sentence ("so, anyway...").
How do you pronounce “so”?
“So” is pronounced soh (/soʊ/ in IPA).
How do you use “so” in a sentence?
Here is “so” used in a sentence: “I was so tired I fell asleep on the train.”
What is another word for “so”?
Words with a similar meaning to “so” include really, truly, that, very, this and yea.
What part of speech is “so”?
Depending on how it is used, “so” can be an adverb, a conjunction and an intj.
Is “so” a common word?
“So” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “so” have?
“So” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to a great or specified extent; very.
What is the difference between "so" and "very"?
Both intensify, but "very" is a neutral measure ("very tall"), while "so" adds emotion or points towards a result ("so tall that he ducked through doorways"). In formal writing, a bare "so" ("It was so good") can read as conversational; "very" or a stronger adjective often works better.
Is it bad style to start a sentence with "so"?
Starting with "so" is grammatical and very common in speech, where it eases into a statement or signals a conclusion. In formal writing it can look like filler when it adds no meaning, so editors often cut an opening "so" unless it genuinely means "therefore."
What is the difference between "so" and "such"?
"So" modifies adjectives and adverbs on their own ("so beautiful," "so quickly"), while "such" comes before a noun phrase, with or without an adjective ("such a beautiful day," "such nonsense"). The rule of thumb: "so + adjective," but "such + (adjective) + noun."
