English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
Login Flashcards
adv A1 Beginner Very common

so

soh
Quiz me More like this

So (adv) means to a great or specified extent; very. Example: “I was so tired I fell asleep on the train.”

adv
1
To a great or specified extent; very.
"I was so tired I fell asleep on the train."
"The cake was so good we ordered a second slice."
"The soup smelled so wonderful that everyone asked for more."
2
In the same way as something already mentioned; also.
"She likes coffee, and so do I."
"He enjoys hiking, and so does his sister."
"I am hungry, and so are the children."
conj
1
Used to introduce a result or consequence.
"It started raining, so we went inside."
"The shop was closed, so I went home."
"She studied hard all term, so the exam felt easy."
intj
1
Used to introduce a new topic, question, or thought, often after a pause.
"So, what do you want to do this weekend?"
"So, how was your journey this morning?"
"So, shall we begin the meeting now?"

How to use so

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishOne 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...").

Common pairings
so far so much so what
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like so.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice

Word forms

Plural
sos
Comparative
more so
Superlative
most so
Test yourself on “so” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

I was _____ tired I fell asleep on the train.

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"), Saterland Frisian so ("so"), West Frisian sa ("so"), Dutch zo ("so"), German Low German so ("so"), German so ("so"), Danish så ("so"), Norwegian Nynorsk so ("so"), Swedish så ("so, such that"), Faroese so ("so"), Icelandic svo ("so"), Old Latin suad ("so"), Albanian sa ("how much, so, as"), Ancient Greek ὡς (hōs, "as"), and Urdu سو (sō, "hence").

Origin: Middle English

Synonyms

View more →
extremely exceedingly immensely likewise also really truly that very this yea one of the family

Related words

that this also most very too really real

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."

Example sentences

Real-world examples showing so in context, drawn from published sources. Any opinions expressed are those of the original source and do not reflect the views of FreeDict.com.

A new study documents two cases of orcas ramming sunfish so hard that the fish explode.
From NPR · Jul 24, 2026

Featured in

Vocabulary lists that include so:

Words that end with O Words that start with S A1 vocabulary words The 100 most common English words The 500 most common English words The 1000 most common English words The 2000 most common English words The 5000 most common English words

People also searched

that this also most very too really real