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Added 9 October 2026

soon

/suːn/ adjective

In Latin: mox, citō Wiktionary

adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about soon at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Short in length of time from the present.
I need the soonest date you have available.
Used as an alternative to express 'to be going to' in the form 'to be soon to'.
Hurry up, the wedding is soon to start!

adverb

Immediately, instantly.
Within a short time; quickly.
His wife is likely to come too after him, but we just do not know how soon after.
Readily; willingly; used with would, or some other word expressing will.

Origin

From Middle English sone, from Old English sōna (“immediately, at once”), from Proto-West Germanic *sān(ō), from Proto-Germanic *sēna, *sēnô (“immediately, soon, then”), from *sa (demonstrative pronoun), from Proto-Indo-European *só (demonstrative pronoun). Cognate with Scots sone, sune, schone (“soon, quickly, at once”), North Frisian san (“immediately, at once”), dialectal Dutch zaan (“soon, before long”), Middle Low German sân (“right afterwards, soon”), Middle High German sān, son (“soon, then”), Old High German sār (“immediately, soon”). Compare also Gothic 𐍃𐌿𐌽𐍃 (suns, “immediately, soon”), from Proto-Germanic *suniz (“soon”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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