soon

adverb

ˈsün How to pronounce soon (audio)
Definition of soonnext
1
as in shortly
at or within a short time we'll be done soon

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in rather
by choice or preference I'd sooner have a cavity filled than suffer through that opera again

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in quickly
with great speed as soon as possible

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of soon Your solar season begins soon, but the beginning of the month encourages you to take a step to regroup and recalibrate, Libra. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026 Many experts are expecting a rate hike soon after Fed Chair Kevin Warsh — in a speech last week at a conference of central bankers — left the door open to it if inflation didn't improve. — ABC News, 1 Sep. 2026 Venus Venus will soon be relinquishing its dominance of the early evening sky. — Joe Rao, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2026 Sprouts Farmers Market continues to grow and a new store could soon be opening near you. — Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for soon
Recent Examples of Synonyms for soon
  1. shortly
  2. rather
  3. quickly
  4. preferably
  5. rapidly
  6. willingly
  7. swiftly
  8. readily
Adverb
  • Meier ran the Ritz Hotel’s bar from 1921 until shortly before his death, in 1947.
    — David Denby, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The past few weeks have seen the former Dateline correspondent and To Catch a Predator host state that he was not consulted on the movie and did not know about the production until shortly before the trailer dropped in May.
    — Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of shortly
Adverb
  • Protectionism is generally not the cause of trade conflicts, but rather a symptom of imbalances that have endured for too long.
    — MICHAEL PETTIS, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Thus polytheistic worship of deities and monist philosophy are not opposed but rather different ways of reaching the divine.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of rather
Adverb
  • As rain falls on the dry, arid slopes in the region, large volumes of water can quickly flow into creeks and waterways.
    — Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Just days later, Kelce was photographed traveling with the same dog, and online sleuths quickly connected the pup to an April 2026 video clip of a similar dog jumping into one of Swift’s cars.
    — Allison DeGrushe, StyleCaster, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of quickly
Adverb
  • For Jaissle, a defensive midfielder who had preferably played in the Premier League was essential.
    — George Caulkin, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Ornamental Grasses Tall ornamental grasses, preferably native ones such as switchgrass, create a focal point in your landscape and mimic the movement and sound of a water feature.
    — Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of preferably
Adverb
  • Memory is crucial for effective leadership, as the role often demands absorbing information rapidly and recalling the right details at critical moments.
    — Julian Hayes II, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Starship is the biggest and most powerful rocket ever built, and both Super Heavy and Ship are designed to be fully and rapidly reusable.
    — Mike Wall, Space.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of rapidly
Adverb
  • But the very act of putting on a wearable—of willingly adorning oneself with a tiny computerized narc—is an act of surrender.
    — Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 28 Aug. 2026
  • If Gluck has willingly conceded to the anti-erotic proclivities of his intended audience, Araki has, naturally, set out to defy them.
    — Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of willingly
Adverb
  • Gordon was completed swiftly, earning Newcastle more money than anticipated (with €70m benchmarked).
    — George Caulkin, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Countries, corporations, and organizations of all kinds would swiftly lose internal trust.
    — Finn Brunton, Harpers Magazine, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of swiftly
Adverb
  • Technological advances have already made drones cheaply and readily available for purchase, with longer ranges, higher payloads, and an improved ability to evade electronic warfare.
    — Seth G. Jones, Foreign Affairs, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Local sports’ future on TV For the last five years, TV executives, producers and directors have anticipated a direct-to-consumer, ala carte menu for games will be readily available, and ultimately replace the traditional formats and models.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of readily

Phrases Containing soon

Browse Nearby Words

sons of man
soon
sooner or later
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Soon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soon. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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