soon

/su:n/ adverb

1 in a short time from now, or a short time after something else happens: It will be dark soon. | David arrived back from Paris sooner than I expected. | They wanted to climb to the top, but they soon abandoned this idea.

(+ after): Paula was pregnant soon after their honeymoon. | how soon (=how quickly): How soon can you finish the report? | as soon as possible (=as quickly as possible): Try and get the car fixed as soon as possible. | as soon as you can: I'll come over to your place as soon as I can. | all too soon (=much sooner than you would like): Children grow up all too soon. | the sooner the better (=used to say that it is important that something should happen very soon): The sooner you answer Jack's letter the better. | the sooner ... the sooner (=used to say that if something happens soon, then something that you want will happen soon afterwards): The sooner I get this work done, the sooner I can go home.

2 as soon as immediately after something has happened: I came as soon as I heard the news.

3 no sooner had ... than used to say that something happened almost immediately after something else: No sooner had he sat down than the phone rang.

4 no sooner said than done used to say that you will do something immediately

5 sooner or later used to say that something is certain to happen at some in the future, though you cannot be sure exactly when: She's bound to find out sooner or later.

6 not a moment too soon/none too soon almost too late, and when you thought that something was not going to happen in time: “The doctor's here!” “And not a moment too soon!”

7 would sooner do sth if you would sooner do something, you would much prefer to do it, especially instead of something that seems unpleasant: I'd sooner die than marry you!

8 would (just) as soon used to say that you would prefer to do something or would prefer something to happen: I'd just as soon you didn't drive the car while I'm gone.