soon
soon
Soon (adv) means In a short time from now; before long. Example: “We'll be leaving soon, so grab your coat.”
adv
1
In a short time from now; before long.
"We'll be leaving soon, so grab your coat."
"The results will be out soon."
"Dinner will be ready soon, so please wash your hands."
2
Early, ahead of the expected time.
"You spoke too soon — the game wasn't actually over."
"The guests arrived too soon, and we were not ready for them."
"If the train comes sooner than expected, we will miss it."
How to use soon
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNot right now, but not long from now either.
Common pairings
as soon as possible
soon after
sooner or later
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like soon.
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
- Comparative
- sooner
- Superlative
- soonest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
We'll be leaving _____, so grab your coat.
Etymology
From Old English sona, "immediately, at once," which originally meant right away rather than the milder "before long" sense it has now.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for soon
See all rhymes for soon →Frequently asked questions
What does “soon” mean?
The word “soon” means in a short time from now; before long. In plain terms, not right now, but not long from now either.
How do you pronounce “soon”?
“Soon” is pronounced soon (/sun/ in IPA).
How do you use “soon” in a sentence?
Here is “soon” used in a sentence: “We'll be leaving soon, so grab your coat.”
What is another word for “soon”?
Words with a similar meaning to “soon” include anon, betimes, by and by, directly, dreckley and early.
What is the opposite of “soon”?
The opposite of “soon” — its antonyms — are behind time, eventually, immediately, on time and punctually.
What part of speech is “soon”?
“Soon” is an adverb.
Where does the word “soon” come from?
The word “soon” comes from Old English. From Old English sona, "immediately, at once," which originally meant right away rather than the milder "before long" sense it has now.
Is “soon” a common word?
“Soon” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between soon and early?
Soon means a short time from now — it measures how quickly something will happen. Early means before the expected or usual time — it measures whether something is ahead of schedule. A train can arrive soon, in a few minutes, yet not be early if it is still running behind.
What is the difference between soon and immediately?
Both suggest little delay, but immediately means right now, without any gap at all. Soon allows a short wait — minutes, hours, even days — before something happens. 'Come immediately' demands action at once, while 'come soon' simply asks you not to leave it too long.
What is the opposite of soon?
The main opposite of soon is later, meaning after more time has passed rather than shortly. Related antonyms include eventually, in the distant future and long from now. Where soon points to something close at hand in time, its opposites push the moment further away.
How soon is 'soon'?
Soon is deliberately vague — it means before long, but sets no fixed limit. The exact span depends on context: 'back soon' might mean minutes, while 'a cure will come soon' could mean years. It always signals a short time relative to the situation, without naming an exact moment.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include soon:
