Standard Lemma guide

sooner

adj · adv · noun · 9 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈsuːnə/
  • General-American: /ˈsunɚ/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -uːnə(ɹ)
  • CMU ARPABET: S UW1 N ER0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

comparative form of soon: more soon

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: comparative, form-of

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adv

Meaning 2

comparative form of soon: more soon

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: comparative, form-of

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adv

Meaning 3

rather.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • I would sooner die than marry you!
  • Sooner than have a problem later, I made sure the policy was in order.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

A native or resident of the American state of Oklahoma

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: informal

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

A native or resident of the American state of Oklahoma

A competitor representing the University of Oklahoma.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: informal

Qualifier: collegiate sports

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

One who crossed into Indian territory before the official opening of settlement in the Oklahoma land rush, in order to obtain land sooner.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: historical

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

adverb

Meaning 7

more readily or willingly

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • clean it well, preferably with warm water
  • I'd rather be in Philadelphia
  • I'd sooner die than give up

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: preferably, rather

Antonyms: none provided

8

adverb

Meaning 8

comparatives of `soon' or `early'

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Come a little sooner, if you can
  • came earlier than I expected

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: earlier

Antonyms: none provided

9

noun

Meaning 9

a native or resident of Oklahoma

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: Oklahoman

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: American

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Real reading context

sooner in complete knowledge articles