soon in a short time from now, or a short time after something else happens:
See you soon! It seemed difficult at first, but I soon got used to it.in the near future in the next few weeks or months.
In the near future is more formal than
soon:
The book will be on sale in the near future.in no time (at all) very soon – used to talk about something good happening:
You’ll be feeling better in no time at all. In no time at all, her son was starting to speak Japanese.in a minute spoken used to say that you will do something or something will happen within a few minutes:
I’ll be ready in a minute. The film’s going to start in a minute.any minute now spoken used to say that something will or may happen very soon, but you do not know exactly when:
They should be here any minute now.any day now spoken used to say that something will or may happen in the next few days, but you do not know exactly when:
I’m hoping to hear from her any day now.shortly formal a short time from now:
They will be with us shortly. the new laws that will shortly be coming into effectbefore long especially literary soon – used especially when something happens which you expected to happen:
They got married, and before long Anna was expecting a baby.it will not be long used when saying that something will happen soon:
It won’t be long before everything is back to normal. I knew that it wouldn’t be long before the same thing happened again. [TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲
before long adv. phr. In a short time; without much delay; in a little while, soon.
Class will be over before long. We were tired of waiting and hoped the bus would come before long. [TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲