Definitions

sooner

[soo-ner] / ˈsu nər /

ADJECTIVE

beforehand

Synonyms

STRONGEST

earlier

STRONG

ahead

WEAK

advanced ahead of time already ante antecedently before before now fore in advance in anticipation precedently precocious previous previously

ADVERB

before

Synonyms

STRONGEST

ahead back previously since

WEAK

afore aforetime ante antecedently anteriorly before present ere fore former formerly forward heretofore in advance in days of yore in front in the old days in the past past precendently previous up to now

Antonyms

WEAK

after afterward behind later

ADVERB

rather

Synonyms

STRONGEST

willingly

WEAK

alternately alternatively as a matter of choice by choice by preference first in lieu of in preference just as soon more readily more willingly much sooner

Antonyms

WEAK

extremely insignificantly little violently

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Early experiments produced encouraging findings sooner than expected, leading the team to bring in additional students from several labs.

From Science Daily • May 15, 2026

Harris-Wakelam said organisers were speaking to banks about bridging loans to get artists paid sooner.

From BBC • May 14, 2026

So you’re going to get hired sooner or later.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 14, 2026

But cuts are coming sooner or later; implementing smaller ones now is less disruptive than bigger ones in the future.

From Barron's • May 11, 2026

And knowing Pita’s loose tongue, Mamá was bound to find out sooner or later.

From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall

sooner

Example Sentences

Related Words