sooner or later

adverb

Synonyms of sooner or laternext
: at some uncertain future time : sometime

Synonyms of sooner or later

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Examples of sooner or later in a Sentence

sooner or later, the police are going to track down the burglar
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.
But sooner or later, scientists say, California's earthquake faults will rupture in a way not seen in the modern era. — Rong-Gong Lin Ii Los Angeles Times, Arkansas Online, 2 Aug. 2026 Piled up, buried, boxed, tagged, incinerated, and, sooner or later, anonymous. — Andy Andersen, Vulture, 17 July 2026 Brand equity will, sooner or later, translate into stock market equity. — Evan Clark, Footwear News, 30 June 2026 There’s an anecdote that crops up sooner or later in almost any book about Johannes Vermeer. — Clare Bucknell, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for sooner or later

Word History

First Known Use

1577, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sooner or later was in 1577

Rhymes for sooner or later

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Browse Nearby Words

sooner
sooner or later
sooner rather than later
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Cite this Entry

“Sooner or later.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sooner%20or%20later. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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