sooner

[soo-ner] /ˈsu nər/
noun
1.
a person who settles on government land before it is legally opened to settlers in order to gain the choice of location.
2.
a person who gains an unfair advantage by getting ahead of others.
Origin
1885-90, Americanism; soon + -er1

Sooner

[soo-ner] /ˈsu nər/
noun
1.
a native or inhabitant of Oklahoma (the Sooner State, ) (used as a nickname).

soon

[soon] /sun/
adverb, sooner, soonest.
1.
within a short period after this or that time, event, etc.:
We shall know soon after he calls.
2.
before long; in the near future; at an early date:
Let's leave soon.
3.
promptly or quickly:
He came as soon as he could.
4.
readily or willingly:
I would as soon walk as ride.
5.
early in a period of time; before the time specified is much advanced:
soon at night; soon in the evening.
6.
Obsolete. immediately; at once; forthwith.
Idioms
7.
sooner or later, eventually:
Sooner or later his luck will run out.
8.
would sooner, to prefer to:
I would sooner not go to their party.
Compare rather (def 8).
Origin
before 900; Middle English; Old English sōna; cognate with Old High German sān, Gothic suns
Can be confused
currently, immediately, momentarily, now, presently, soon (see synonym study at immediately; see usage note at presently)
Examples from the web for sooner
  • Barriers usually fail sooner or later, or the bamboo within suffers greatly.
  • Unfortunately, no sooner had this been achieved than it was lost again.
British Dictionary definitions for sooner

sooner

/ˈsuːnə/
adverb
1.
the comparative of soon he came sooner than I thought
2.
rather; in preference: I'd sooner die than give up
3.
no sooner…than, immediately after or when: no sooner had he got home than the rain stopped, no sooner said than done
4.
sooner or later, eventually; inevitably
Usage note
When is sometimes used instead of than after no sooner, but this use is generally regarded as incorrect: no sooner had he arrived than (not when) the telephone rang

soon

/suːn/
adverb
1.
in or after a short time; in a little while; before long: the doctor will soon be here
2.
as soon as, at the very moment that: she burst into tears as soon as she saw him
3.
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
Word Origin
Old English sōna; related to Old High German sāno, Gothic suns
Word Origin and History for sooner

soon

adv.

Old English sona "at once, immediately, directly, forthwith," from West Germanic *sæno (cf. Old Frisian son, Old Saxon sana, Old High German san, Gothic suns "soon"). Sense softened early Middle English to "within a short time" (cf. anon). American English. Sooner for "Oklahoma native" is 1930 (earlier "one who acts prematurely," 1889), from the 1889 opening to whites of what was then part of Indian Territory, when many would-be settlers sneaked onto public land and staked their claims "sooner" than the legal date and time.

Slang definitions & phrases for sooner

Sooner

modifier

: the Sooner football team

noun

A native or resident of Oklahoma (1930+)

[fr the fact that some settlers entered the public land and staked their claims sooner than the legal date and hour in 1889]


Idioms and Phrases with sooner

soon

see: