/su:n; sun/
adv
1 (used in mid-position with the v or, esp with too, quite, very, in end position 与动词连用置于句中; 尤与too、quite、very连用置于句末) not long after the present time or the time mentioned; within a short time 不久
*We shall soon be home. 我们快到家了.
* We soon got there. 我们很快就到那儿了.
* We shall be home quite soon now. 我们这就快到家了.
* He'll be here very soon. 他马上就要到这儿了.
* It will soon be five years since we came to live in Cairo. 我们来到开罗居住快五年了.
2 (often in the pattern thesooner...the sooner... 常用于the sooner...the sooner...的结构中) early; quickly 早; 很快地
*How soon can you be ready? 你最快要多长时间才能准备好?
* Must you leave so soon? 你真得这么早就走吗?
* She will be here sooner than you expect. 她很快就到, 比你预料的要早.
* The sooner you begin the sooner you'll finish, ie If you begin earlier you'll finish earlier. 早开始早结束.
* The sooner you leave the sooner you'll be home. 早走早到家.
3 (idm 习语) as `soon as (used as a conj 用作连词) at the moment that; not later than (the moment when) 一...就...; 不迟于
*He left as soon as he heard the news. 他一听到这事儿就走了.
* I'll tell him as soon as I see him. 我一见到他就告诉他.
* He didn't arrive as soon as we'd hoped. 他到达的时间比我们预期的要迟. (just) as soon do sth (as do sth) with equal willingness or readiness (as) 同样乐于做某事（像做另一事一样）
*I'd (just) as soon stay at home as go for a walk. 我呆在家里也行, 出去散步也行. least said soonest mended => least. no ,sooner ,said than `done (of a promise, question, request, etc) done, fulfilled, etc immediately （指诺言、问题、要求等）说到立即做、履行、解决、满足等. no sooner...than immediately when or after 一...就...
*He had no sooner/No sooner had he arrived than he was asked to leave again. 他刚到就被支走了. soon after (sb/sth) a short time after (sb/sth) 在（某人[某事物]）之後不久
*He arrived ,soon after `three. 他是刚过三点的时候到的.
* They left ,soon after `we did. 我们走後不久他们也离开了.
* I rang for a taxi and it arrived soon `after. 我打电话叫了计程车, 不一会儿车就到了. the ,sooner the `better as quickly as possible 越快越好
*`When should I ask him?' `The sooner the better.' ｀我什么时候问他好呢?＇｀越快越好.＇ ,sooner or `later one day; eventually (whether soon or later on) 早晚; 迟早; 总有一天
*You should tell her, because she'll find out sooner or later. 你还是告诉她吧, 因为她迟早会发觉的. sooner do sth (than do sth) (fml 文) rather do sth 宁愿做某事
*She would sooner resign than take part in such dishonest business deals. 她宁可辞职也不愿参与这种不正当的买卖.
* Go back there? I'd sooner emigrate! 回去? 我宁可移居海外也不回去!
* Will you tell him, or would you sooner (ie prefer it if) I did? 是你去告诉他呢, 还是你愿意让我去告诉他呢? speak too soon => speak.

adv comparativesoonersuperlativesoonest
[Language: Old English;Origin: sona 'immediately']
in a short time from now, or a short time after something else happens
　It will be dark soon.
　David arrived sooner than I expected.
soon after
　Paula became pregnant soon after they were married.
　'Who?' 'You'll find out soon enough (=fairly soon) .'
quickly
　How soon can you finish the report?
　Try and get the car fixed as soon as possible .
as soon as
immediately after something happens, without delay
　As soon as she entered the room, she knew there was something wrong.
　I'll come over to your place as soon as I can.
the sooner (...) the better
used to say that it is important that something should happen very soon
　The sooner we get this job finished the better.
　Let's get out of here! The sooner the better!
the sooner ... the sooner
used to say that you want something to happen soon, so that something else can then happen
　The sooner I get this work done, the sooner I can go home.
no sooner had/did ... than
used to say that something happened almost immediately after something else
　No sooner had he sat down than the phone rang.
sooner or later
used to say that something is certain to happen at some time in the future, though you cannot be sure exactly when
　His wife's bound to find out sooner or later.
too soon
too early
too soon to do sth
　It's still too soon to say whether the operation was a success.
　The holidays were over all too soon (=much earlier than you would like) .
no sooner said than done
used to say that you will do something immediately
not a moment too soon/none too soon
almost too late
　'The doctor's here!' 'And not a moment too soon!'
sb would sooner do sth (than)
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!
sb would (just) as soon
formal used to say that someone 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.