sooner rather than later

phrase

: without too much delay : soon

We need to fix this problem sooner rather than later.

Examples of sooner rather than later in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Agoume is likely to be a Premier League player sooner rather than later. — Carl Anka, New York Times, 9 July 2026 The big question is if the well will run dry sooner rather than later. — Michael Lewis, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026 And by that point, the stock bubble may have burst, because the market has priced in returns sooner rather than later. — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 6 July 2026

Browse Nearby Words

sooner or later

sooner rather than later

Soong Ai-ling

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Sooner rather than later.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sooner%20rather%20than%20later. Accessed 14 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

sooner rather than later

phrase

Examples of sooner rather than later in a Sentence

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

yaw

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10

Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes

sooner rather than later

phrase

Examples of sooner rather than later in a Sentence

Rhymes for sooner rather than later

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

yaw

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10

Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes