Meaning of so in English

adverb

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/səʊ/ us

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/soʊ/

so adverb (VERY)

very, extremely, or to such a degree:

The house is so beautiful.

Thank you for being so patient.

Don't be so stupid!

I didn't know she had so many children!

You can only do so much to help (= there is a limit to how much you can help).

UK informal She's ever so kind and nice.

I'm so tired (that) I could sleep in this chair!

I'm not so desperate as to agree to that.

The word itself is so rare as to be almost obsolete.

not standard

used before a noun or before "not" to emphasize what is being said:

Don't wear that - it's so last year (= it was fashionable last year but not now).

I'm sorry, but she is so not a size 10 (= she is very much larger than a size 10).

used at the end of a sentence to mean to a very great degree:

Is that why you hate him so?

You worry so!

More examples

He's so unreliable.
It was so kind of you.
I'm so tired.
He's so gorgeous.
She's so tall.

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

Linguistics: very & extreme

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so adverb (SAME WAY)

used usually before the verbs "have", "be", or "do", and other auxiliary verbs to express the meaning "in the same way" or "in a similar way":

"I've got an enormous amount of work to do." "So have I."

"I'm allergic to nuts." "So is my brother."

Neil left just after midnight and so did Roz.

Just as you like to have a night out with the lads, so I like to go out with the girls now and again.

More examples

"We went on Saturday." "So did we."
"I'm fed up with him." "So am I."
"I've really put on weight." "So have I."
"I'd like to go skiing." "So would I."
"We're going to France this summer." "So are we."

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Similar and the same

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so adverb (MENTIONED EARLIER)

used to avoid repeating a phrase mentioned earlier:

"I hope they stay together." "I hope so too."

"Do you think he's upset?" "I don't think so."

James is coming tonight, or so he said.

used to say that a situation mentioned earlier is correct or true:

"Is it true that we're not getting a pay increase this year?" "I'm afraid so."

"Anthony and Mia don't get along very well." "Is that so?"

"The forecast says it might rain." "If so, we'll have the party inside."

used to say that a fact that has just been stated is certainly true:

"My eyes are slightly different colours." "So they are."

"That's her brother - he looks like James Dean." "So he does."

used instead of repeating an adjective that has already been mentioned:

She's reasonable to work with - more so than I was led to believe.

He's fairly bright - well, certainly more so than his brother.

US child's word

used, especially by children, to argue against a negative statement:

"You didn't even see the movie." "I did so!"

to do so

to act in the way mentioned:

Parents must take responsibility for their children. Failure to do so could mean a fine or a jail sentence.

More examples

"Will Charles be there?" "I think so."
"Is Lucy coming?" "I hope so."
"Are they leaving Manchester?" "I believe so."
Alice works there - or so I was told.
Oliver was furious - or so Tilly told me.

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

Replacing and exchanging

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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

Saying again

Expressions used to describe situations

Linguistics: very & extreme

Acting and acts

Behaving, interacting and behaviour

so adverb (IN THIS WAY)

in this way, or like this:

The pillars, which are outside the building, are so placed in order to provide the maximum space inside.

I've so arranged my trip that I'll be home on Friday night.

used when you are showing how something is done:

Just fold this piece of paper back, so, and make a crease here.

Gently fold in the eggs like so.

used when you are representing the size of something:

"How tall is he next to you?" "Oh, about so big," she said, indicating the level of her neck.

"The table that I liked best was about so wide," she said, holding her arms out a metre and a half.

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

Ways of achieving things

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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

Acting and acts

General words for size and amount

Grammar

…

So + adjective (so difficult), so + adverb (so slowly)

We often use so when we mean ‘to such a great extent’. With this meaning, so is a degree adverb that modifies adjectives and other adverbs: …

So much and so many

We use so before much, many, little and few: …

So as a substitute form

…

So am I, so do I, Neither do I

We use so with be and with modal and auxiliary verbs to mean ‘in the same way’, ‘as well’ or ‘too’. We use it in order to avoid repeating a verb, especially in short responses with pronoun subjects. When we use so in this way, we invert the verb and subject, and we do not repeat the main verb (so + verb [= v] + subject [= s]): …

So as a conjunction

We use so as a subordinating conjunction to introduce clauses of result or decision: …

So as a discourse marker

…

So: other uses in speaking

So far means ‘up to now’: …

So and not with expect, hope, think, etc.

We can use so after some verbs instead of repeating an object clause, especially in short answers. The verbs we do this with most are: appear, assume, be afraid (meaning ‘regret’), believe, expect, guess, hope, imagine, presume, reckon, seem, suppose, think: …

Idioms

only so much/many
so be it
so much so

conjunction

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/səʊ/ us

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/soʊ/

so conjunction (SENTENCE BEGINNING)

used at the beginning of a sentence to connect it with something that has been said or has happened previously:

So, there I was standing at the edge of the road with only my underwear on ...

So, just to finish what I was saying earlier...

used as a way of making certain that you or someone else understand something correctly, often when you are repeating the important points of a plan:

So we leave on the Thursday and get back the next Tuesday, is that right?

used to refer to a discovery that you have just made:

So that's what he does when I'm not around!

used as a short pause, sometimes to emphasize what you are saying:

So, here we are again - just you and me.

used before you introduce a subject of conversation that is of present interest, especially when you are asking a question:

So, who do you think is going to win the election?

informal

used to show that you agree with something that someone has just said, but you do not think that it is important:

So the car's expensive - well, I can afford it.

More examples

So, what are we having for dinner?"
So, what were you saying about Nadia?"
So, you'll be moving house I hear.
So, what was I saying just now?
So that's why you wanted me there tonight - to help with the cooking!

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

Linguistics: connecting words joining words or phrases with similar or related meanings

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so conjunction (THEREFORE)

and for that reason; therefore:

My knee started hurting so I stopped running.

I was lost so I bought a street map.

More examples

She was ill so I sent her some flowers to cheer her up.
I felt a bit chilly so I put on a jacket.
She looked at me so I smiled at her.
He hit me so I hit him back.
I was hungry so I bought a sandwich.

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

Linguistics: connecting words joining words or phrases with similar or related meanings

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Grammar

…

So + adjective (so difficult), so + adverb (so slowly)

We often use so when we mean ‘to such a great extent’. With this meaning, so is a degree adverb that modifies adjectives and other adverbs: …

So much and so many

We use so before much, many, little and few: …

So as a substitute form

…

So am I, so do I, Neither do I

So as a conjunction

We use so as a subordinating conjunction to introduce clauses of result or decision: …

So as a discourse marker

…

So: other uses in speaking

So far means ‘up to now’: …

Idioms

so there

so what?

conjunction, adverb

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/səʊ/ us

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/soʊ/

used before you give an explanation for the action that you have just mentioned:

[ + (that) ] I deliberately didn't have lunch so (that) I would be hungry tonight.

Leave the keys out so (that) I remember to take them with me.

so as to

in order to:

I always keep fruit in the fridge so as to keep flies off it.

so as not to

in order not to:

He did not switch on the light so as not to disturb her.

More examples

I didn't tell him so he wouldn't worry.
I took the umbrella so we wouldn't get soaked.
I told my mother so she'd know why we were late.
I got my hair cut so I'd be smart for the party.
I gave it to Isobel so she could enjoy it too.

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Linguistics: connecting words which introduce a cause or reason

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Grammar

…

So + adjective (so difficult), so + adverb (so slowly)

We often use so when we mean ‘to such a great extent’. With this meaning, so is a degree adverb that modifies adjectives and other adverbs: …

So much and so many

We use so before much, many, little and few: …

So as a substitute form

…

So am I, so do I, Neither do I

So as a conjunction

We use so as a subordinating conjunction to introduce clauses of result or decision: …

So as a discourse marker

…

So: other uses in speaking

So far means ‘up to now’: …

So that or in order that?

We use so that and in order that to talk about purpose. We often use them with modal verbs (can, would, will, etc.). So that is far more common than in order that, and in order that is more formal: …

adjective

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/səʊ/ us

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/soʊ/

just/exactly so

perfectly tidy and well arranged:

He's a perfectionist - everything has to be just so.

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Clean & tidy

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noun [ S ]

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/səʊ/ us

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/soʊ/

the musical note soh

Synonym

sol

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

Notes of the musical scale

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(Definition of so from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

so | American Dictionary

adverb [ not gradable ]

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/soʊ/

so adverb [not gradable] (TO SUCH A DEGREE)

to such a great degree; very:

He’s so stupid he’d believe anything you tell him.

Our families live so far away.

so adverb [not gradable] (SIMILARLY)

(used usually before the verbs have, be, do, and other auxiliary verbs) in the same way; similarly:

He was interested, and so were a lot of other people.

so adverb [not gradable] (TRUE)

true, or truly:

He thinks I’m out to get him, but that simply isn’t so.

so adverb [not gradable] (IN THIS WAY)

more or less like this or in this way:

Grandpa could be generous when he so desired.

So is also used to suggest the approximate size of someone or something:

The box is about so big.

Idioms

in so many words
so much
so much as
so much so
so what
so there
so be it
so far
so far, so good
so help me

More idioms

so long
so long as
so much for
so to speak

adjective, adverb [ not gradable ]

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/soʊ/

so adjective, adverb [not gradable] (IT IS THE SITUATION)

(used instead of repeating something that has just been mentioned) it is the situation:

"I hope our paths cross again." "I hope so too."

conjunction

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/soʊ/

so conjunction (THEREFORE)

and for that reason; therefore:

My knee started hurting, so I stopped running.

so conjunction (IN ORDER THAT)

in order that, or with the result that:

They moved so they could be closer to her family.

So.

adjective, noun [ U ]

abbreviation for south or southern

Translations of so

in Chinese (Traditional)

in Japanese

in Turkish

in French

in Catalan

in Arabic

in Czech

in Danish

in Indonesian

in Thai

in Vietnamese

in Polish

in Malay

in German

in Norwegian

in Korean

in Portuguese

in Chinese (Simplified)

in Italian

in Russian

in Spanish

非常, 很，非常，這麽，那麽, （用在名詞或 not 前表示強調）…

（後続の形容詞を強調し）とても, 非常に, （相手の言葉を受けて）そのように…

öyle, öyle...ki, o kadar…

si, aussi, tellement…

molt, tan, s’utilitza en respostes per evitar repetir part de la pregunta…

جِدًا, ذَلِك, وكَذَلِك…

tak, stajně tak, opravdu…

så, sådan, således…

begitu, demikian, juga…

มาก, อย่างที่ควรจะเป็น, เช่นนั้น…

rất, cực kì, đến mức…

tak, taki, że tak…

sungguh, banyak, sangat…

so, das, so … dass…

så, det, det … også…

(-할 정도로) 너무, (이미 언급된 말을 줄여) 그렇게, (이미 언급된 말이나 사건과 관련하여 문장 맨 앞에 쓰여) 자…

tão, que sim, então…

非常, 很，非常，这么，那么, （用在名词或 not 前表示强调）…

così, talmente, usato per dare una risposta affermativa breve…

так, до такой степени, употребляется для избежания повтора предшествующего высказывания да…

muy, tan, se usa en respuestas para evitar repetir alguna frase de la pregunta…

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What is the pronunciation of so?

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snuggled

snuggler

snuggling

snugly

so ... it's not true idiom

so be it idiom

so far idiom

so far, so good idiom

Meaning of so in English

so adverb (VERY)

so adverb (SAME WAY)

so adverb (MENTIONED EARLIER)

so adverb (IN THIS WAY)

Grammar

Idioms

so conjunction (SENTENCE BEGINNING)

so conjunction (THEREFORE)

Grammar

Idioms

Grammar

so | American Dictionary

so adverb [not gradable] (TO SUCH A DEGREE)

so adverb [not gradable] (SIMILARLY)

so adverb [not gradable] (TRUE)

so adverb [not gradable] (IN THIS WAY)

Idioms

so adjective, adverb [not gradable] (IT IS THE SITUATION)

so conjunction (THEREFORE)

so conjunction (IN ORDER THAT)

Translations of so

Browse

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