soonest

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "soonest" is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used to express the idea of promptness or punctuality, as in the sentence: "Please respond at your earliest convenience, or at the soonest possible time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Dassault and Bombardier are taking orders for two to three years out, and Boeing says the soonest a new plane can be delivered is 2012.

The Economist

This was one of the main reasons that the established opposition parties all decided not to contest the election.Mr Nazarbayev's term had not been due to end until 2012 at the soonest.

The Economist

They were to be sworn in "at the soonest possible opportunity", along with Roy Bennett, a dispossessed white farmer, whom Mr Mugabe has hitherto steadfastly refused to accept on the ground that he was facing charges of "treason".

The Economist

The big telecoms firms that will win back investor confidence soonest will be those with the courage to rip apart their monolithic structures along functional layers, to swap size for speed and to embrace rather than fear disruptive technologies.

The Economist

But the soonest an amendment could be legally enacted is 2006.

The Economist

The countries that went off gold soonest tended to recover fastest.

The Economist

Mature pension funds, with a high proportion of retired employees to people still working, are in the worst straits, because they have to pay out the soonest and get less income from current contributors.Pension funds now have to decide whether to stick to their high allocation to equities and pray for stockmarkets to go up, or to rethink their investment strategy.

The Economist

Those that did so soonest tended to suffer least during the Depression.

The Economist

I believe the companies that realise that soonest will be the winners".If CCS is to take off, the rules on CO2 storage need sorting out.

The Economist

The three small countries that hoped to join the euro soonest are all solvent, and have creditably low inflation.

The Economist

In the Premier League's cutthroat economic environment, whichever club figures out how to apply it best the soonest will enjoy an enviable advantage.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When politely requesting action, use "at your soonest convenience" to convey a sense of urgency while maintaining a respectful tone.

Common error

Be specific about the timeframe when using "soonest". Without context, it can be unclear exactly how quickly something is expected to happen. For example, instead of saying "Respond soonest", specify "Respond by tomorrow."

Linguistic Context

The adverb "soonest" functions as the superlative form of "soon", indicating the utmost degree of immediacy. Ludwig AI confirms that it’s grammatically correct and commonly used. Examples in Ludwig demonstrate its role in specifying the earliest possible time for events or actions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "soonest" functions as an adverb emphasizing the earliest possible time for something to occur. According to Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and widely used. Predominantly found in news and media, as well as formal business contexts, "soonest" serves to convey a sense of urgency. For alternative expressions, consider "as soon as possible" or "at the earliest opportunity". While generally neutral in tone, it's beneficial to provide specific timeframes to avoid ambiguity, ensuring clarity in communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at the earliest opportunity

Emphasizes the availability of an opportunity rather than just time.

as soon as possible

A more common and slightly less formal way to express the same idea.

at the first chance

Focuses on having an opportunity rather than strict timing.

at your earliest convenience

A polite and formal way to request prompt action.

without delay

Highlights the absence of any waiting time.

immediately

Suggests an even more rapid action than "soonest".

right away

An informal way of saying immediately.

promptly

Emphasizes quick and efficient action.

forthwith

A very formal and somewhat archaic way to say immediately.

in short order

Indicates something will happen quickly and efficiently.

FAQs

How can I use "soonest" in a sentence?

You can use "soonest" to indicate the earliest possible time for something to occur. For example, "The "soonest" I can leave is 3 PM" or "Please reply at your "earliest convenience", or at the "soonest possible time"".

What phrases are similar to "soonest"?

Similar phrases include "as soon as possible", "at the earliest opportunity", and "without delay". The choice depends on the desired level of formality and emphasis.

Which is correct, "soonest possible" or "earliest possible"?

Both "soonest possible" and "earliest possible" are correct and largely interchangeable. "Soonest" emphasizes speed, while "earliest" focuses on the point in time.

Is "soonest" appropriate for formal communication?

Yes, "soonest" can be used in formal communication, especially when you need to convey a sense of urgency in a polite way. Using phrases like "at your "soonest convenience"" is suitable for professional contexts.