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Later vs Soon - What's the difference?

later | soon |

As adverbs the difference between later and soon

is that later is comparative of late while soon is immediately, instantly.

As adjectives the difference between later and soon

is that later is comparative of late while soon is occurring within a short time, or quickly.

As an interjection later

is see you later; goodbye.

later

English

Adverb

(head)
  • (late)
    • You came in late yesterday and today you came in even later .
  • Afterward in time (used with than when comparing with another time).
    • My roommate arrived first. I arrived later .
    I arrived later than my roommate.
  • At some unspecified time in the future.
    • I wanted to do it now, but I'll have to do it later .

    Antonyms

    * earlier

    Adjective

    (head)
  • (late)
    • Jim was later than John.
  • Coming afterward in time (used with than when comparing with another time).
    • The Victorian era is a later period of English history than the Elizabethan era.
  • At some time in the future.
    • The meeting was adjourned to a later date.

    Antonyms

    * earlier

    Interjection

    (head)
  • (slang) See you later; goodbye.
    • Later , dude.
  • (slang) Dismissive term to minimize importance of an annoying persons.
    • Frequently used with "for you". "Later for you."

    Derived terms

    * later days * later on * save for later * sooner or later

    Statistics

    *

    Anagrams

    * * * * * 200 English basic words ----

    soon

    English

    (wikipedia soon)

    Adjective

    (er)
  • Occurring within a short time, or quickly.
  • *{{quote-book, year=1927, author= F. E. Penny
    • , chapter=4, title= Pulling the Strings , passage=Soon after the arrival of Mrs. Campbell, dinner was announced by Abboye. He came into the drawing room resplendent in his gold-and-white turban. […] His cummerbund matched the turban in gold lines.}}

    Adverb

    (er)
  • (label) Immediately, instantly.
  • Within a short time; quickly.
  • * , chapter=1
    • , title= Mr. Pratt's Patients, chapter=1 , passage=I stumbled along through the young pines and huckleberry bushes. Pretty soon I struck into a sort of path that, I cal'lated, might lead to the road I was hunting for. It twisted and turned, and, the first thing I knew, made a sudden bend around a bunch of bayberry scrub and opened out into a big clear space like a lawn.}}
  • * , chapter=5
    • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=Then everybody once more knelt, and soon the blessing was pronounced. The choir and the clergy trooped out slowly,
  • *{{quote-magazine, date=2014-04-21, volume=411, issue=8884, magazine=(The Economist)
    • , title= Subtle effects , passage=Manganism has been known about since the 19th century, when miners exposed to ores containing manganese
  • Early.
  • * Bible, (w) ii. 18
    • How is it that ye are come so soon to-day?
  • Readily; willingly; used with would , or some other word expressing will.
  • * (Joseph Addison) (1672-1719)
    • I would as soon see a river winding through woods or in meadows, as when it is tossed up in so many whimsical figures at Versailles.

    Derived terms

    * get well soon * sooner or later * soon enough * soonish * too soon

    Statistics

    * 1000 English basic words ----