so

1 of 7

adverb

ˈsō How to pronounce so (audio)
 especially before an adjective or adverb followed by "that" 
1
a
: in a manner or way indicated or suggested
do you really think so
often used as a substitute for a preceding clause
are you ready? I think so
I didn't like it and I told her so
b
: in the same manner or way : also
worked hard and so did she
c
: thus sense 1
for so the Lord saidIsaiah 18:4 (King James Version)
d
: then, subsequently
and so home and to bed
2
a(1)
: to an indicated or suggested extent or degree
had never been so happy
used chiefly in negative constructions with a following correlative element introduced by as
thought that his share wasn't so big as his brother's
(2)
: to the same extent or degree : to such a degree : as sense 1
b
: to a great extent or degree : very, extremely
loves her so
c
: to a definite but unspecified extent or degree
can only do so much in a day
d
: most certainly : indeed
you did so do it
e
informal : most decidedly : surely
I so don't believe you
3
: therefore, consequently
the witness is biased and so unreliable
Can so be used as an intensive?: Usage Guide

The intensive use of so (sense 2b) is widely condemned in college handbooks but is nonetheless standard.

why is American television so shallow? Anthony Lewis
the cephalopod eye is an example of a remarkable evolutionary parallel because it is so like the eye of a vertebrate Sarah F. Robbins
the kind of sterile over-ingenuity which afflicts so many academic efforts The Times Literary Supplement (London)

There is no stigma attached to its use in negative contexts and when qualified by a dependent clause.

not so long ago
was so good in mathematics that he began to consider engineering Current Biography

The denotation in these uses is, of course, slightly different (see sense 2a). Another emphatic use of so (sense 2e) has developed more recently and occurs mostly in informal contexts.

so

2 of 7

conjunction

1
a
: with the result that
the acoustics are good, so every note is clear
b
: in order that
be quiet so he can sleep
2
archaic : provided that
3
a
: for that reason : therefore
don't want to go, so I won't
b(1)
used as an introductory particle
so here we are
often to belittle a point under discussion
so what?
(2)
used interjectionally to indicate awareness of a discovery
so, that's who did it
or surprised dissent
Using So as a Conjunction: Usage Guide

Although occasionally condemned, use of so to introduce clauses of result (sense 1a) and purpose (sense 1b) is standard. In sense 1b so that is more common in formal contexts than so alone.

so

3 of 7

adjective

1
: conforming with actual facts : true
said things that were not so
2
: marked by a desired order
his books are always just so
3
used to replace a preceding adjective
was witty by adult standards and of course doubly so by mineSally Kempton

so

4 of 7

pronoun

1
: such as has been specified or suggested : the same
if you have to file a claim, do so as soon as possible
2
used in the phrase or so to indicate an estimate, approximation, or conjecture
stayed a week or so
cost $15 or so

so

5 of 7

noun

less common variant of sol

: the fifth note of the major scale in solfège

so

6 of 7

abbreviation (1)

south; southern

SO

7 of 7

abbreviation (2)

1
seller's option
2
strikeout
Phrases
so as to
: in order to

Examples of so in a Sentence

Adverb I don't think they can score twice in so short a time. There has always been an interest in genetic cloning, but never more so than in recent years. He looked so handsome in his suit. We are all so excited about the trip. I'm so happy that you decided to join us for dinner. I feel so much better after taking that nap. Thank you so much for your help. He dislikes her so much that he won't even talk to her. The test was not so very hard after all. “He is about so tall,” she said, raising her hand about six feet in the air. Conjunction We were bored with the movie, so we left. I don't want to go, so I won't. There are no more chairs available, so you'll have to stand. Adjective You are saying things that are just not so. I heard you met the president—is that so?
Recent Examples on the Web
Adverb
Real-time satellite monitoring shows that so far in 2024, more than 10,000 wildfires have ripped across 11,000 square kilometers of the Amazon, across multiple countries. Quentin Septer, WIRED, 11 Mar. 2024 Aliyah Herron delivered the highlight of the game so far for Northfield, crossing over Kyla Hollier on the break and leaving the Rough Rider sliding on the ground, before banking in a 3. Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 11 Mar. 2024 March 8, 2024 Rarely have two major candidates presented narratives so wildly at odds. Doyle McManus, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2024 But the budding film director always wanted to go to Hollywood, so after graduating and spending a few years in New York City, Frohna took the chance and moved to Los Angeles to pursue his career. Adrienne Davis, Journal Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2024 The new research suggests why: The virus is not always fully cleared after the initial infection, so remains deeply embedded, even though people are no longer contagious. Lisa M. Krieger, The Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2024 Justifiably so: The long-term impact that the Vida Valiente Foundation is having—thanks to the efforts of the Drumwrights, the Kaplans, their guests and clients, as well as the generous support of some of Napa’s top wine producers—continues to grow, and is helping more and more students each year. Brian Freedman, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 What’s so striking about Rouillón’s architecture are the organic and open elements that seamlessly connect indoors and out. Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 28 Feb. 2024 Hundreds of local outlets have not been so lucky, closing their doors as advertising dollars disappear. Oliver Darcy, CNN, 28 Feb. 2024
Adjective
Policies of pursuing lasting peace, all the more so policies in the spirit of the two-state solution, must rest on the practical assumption that the dangers to Israel and its citizens, as nurtured and practiced by terrorist organizations, have been permanently eliminated. Foreign Affairs, 27 Oct. 2023 But privacy in the court system is kind of an important details to be on top of so way to go at them and getting it and give credit to the court for moving quickly to fix it. Laura Johnston, cleveland, 8 Apr. 2022 The hallux must help stabilize the foot and control the arch during footstrike so impact forces are distributed evenly. Outside Online, 5 Aug. 2019 Instead, incorporate IaC as part of modernization efforts and pair it with upskilling so engineers can focus on advanced projects. Expert Panel®, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2021 Owners of homes with pools in El Dorado County are actually being encouraged to spray paint in large letters the number of gallons in the so aircraft can spot the information. CBS News, 20 Aug. 2021 The Oakland Police Department's own stingray was seemingly insufficient, so officers then called in the FBI, both times without a warrant. Cyrus Farivar, Ars Technica, 12 July 2017 But both also got weighed down by their stars, pulling in so-so receptions from audiences (and getting savaged by critics). Angela Watercutter, WIRED, 2 June 2017 But inhaling powerful opioids can be deadly, so officers have a new tool to protect their four-legged partners: naloxone, a drug that has already been used for years to reverse overdoses in humans. Washington Post, 1 June 2017
Noun
The movie, directed by Paul King, who also wrote the story (and co-wrote the script with Simon Farnaby), depends entirely on a just-so imagination. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 11 Dec. 2023 Modern synthetic oil is safe to use in all types of vehicles, ranging from new purchases to classics to aging not-so-classics. Annie White, Car and Driver, 3 Dec. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'so.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adverb

Middle English, from Old English swā; akin to Old High German so, Latin sic so, thus, si if, Greek hōs so, thus, Latin suus one's own — more at suicide

First Known Use

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Conjunction

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Pronoun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of so was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near so

Cite this Entry

“So.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/so. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

so

1 of 5 adverb
(ˈ)sō How to pronounce so (audio)
 especially before adj or adv followed by  ",
 that  " sə
1
a
: in a manner or way that is indicated or suggested
do you really think so
it so happened that all were wrong
often used as a substitute for a preceding clause
I didn't like it and told her so
b
: in the same manner or way : also
worked hard and so did we
c
: then entry 1 sense 2
and so home and to bed
2
a
: to an indicated or suggested amount or way
had never been so happy
b
: very much
I loved them so
c
: to a definite but not specified amount
can only do so much in a day
d
: most certainly : indeed
you did so do it
e
: most decidedly : surely
I so don't believe you
3
: for a reason that has just been stated : therefore
is honest and so returned the wallet

so

2 of 5 conjunction
(ˈ)sō
1
a
: with the result that
the way you speak is good, so every word is clear
b
: in order that
be quiet so that I can sleep
2
archaic : provided that
3
: for that reason
don't want to go, so I won't
4
a
used to introduce a statement or question
so here we are
often to belittle a point under discussion
so what?
b
used interjectionally to indicate awareness of a discovery
so, that's who did it

so

3 of 5 adjective
ˈsō
1
: agreeing with actual facts : true
said things that were not so
2
: marked by a definite order
my books are always just so

so

4 of 5 pronoun
ˌsō,
ˈsō
1
: such as has been specified : the same
if you have to sign up for the trip, do so as soon as possible
2
: approximately that
20 years or so

so

5 of 5 noun
ˈsō

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