in or after a short time; in a little while; before long - as soon as ⇒
at the very moment that: she burst into tears as soon as she saw him - as soon…as ⇒
used to indicate that the second alternative mentioned is not preferable to the first: I'd just as soon go by train as drive
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
soon /sun/USA pronunciation
adv., -er, -est.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- within a short period;
before long:The frogs started their noise soon after dark. - promptly;
quickly:Finish as soon as you can. - readily or willingly:I would as soon walk as ride.
- Idioms sooner or later, sometime;
eventually:Sooner or later you must face the truth. - Idioms, would or had sooner, [~ + verb (+ than + verb)] to prefer to:I would sooner stay home and watch TV (than go to that party).Compare rather (def. 7).
soon
(so̅o̅n),USA pronunciation adv., -er, -est.
- within a short period after this or that time, event, etc.:We shall know soon after he calls.
- before long;
in the near future;
at an early date:Let's leave soon. - promptly or quickly:He came as soon as he could.
- readily or willingly:I would as soon walk as ride.
- early in a period of time;
before the time specified is much advanced:soon at night; soon in the evening. - [Obs.]immediately;
at once;
forthwith. - would sooner, to prefer to:I would sooner not go to their party.Cf. rather (def. 7).
- sooner or later, eventually:Sooner or later his luck will run out.
- bef. 900; Middle English; Old English sōna; cognate with Old High German sān, Gothic suns
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'how soon' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):