2
general::
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 effect
before 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.
Longman-Thesaurus