Definition of 'so'
pronunciation note: Usually pronounced (soʊ
) for meanings [sense 1], [sense 6], [sense 7], [sense 8], [sense 15] and [sense 16].
1. adverb [ADV after v]
2. adverb [ADV cl]
3. conjunction
4. adverb [v-link ADV]
5. adverb [ADV after v]
6. conjunction
7. conjunction
8. adverb [ADV cl]
9. adverb [ADV cl]
10. convention
11. adverb [ADV adj/adv]
12. adverb
13. See also insofar as
14.
See and so on
15.
See so much/so many
16.
See not so much
17.
See or so
19. so far so good
20. so long
21. so much so
22. every so often
23. so there
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
British English pronunciation
American English pronunciation
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Word Frequency
SO in American English
strikeout(s)
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word Frequency
so in American English 1
adverb
1.
in the way or manner shown, expressed, indicated, understood, etc.; as stated or
described; in such a manner
hold the bat just so
2.
a.
to the degree expressed or understood; to such an extent
why are you so late?
c.
to a very high degree; very
they are so happy
d. Informal
very much
she so wants to go
4.
more or less; approximately that number, amount, etc.
in this sense, so is often regarded as a pronoun fifty dollars or so
5.
also used colloquially in contradicting a negative statement [I did so tell the truth!]
6.
then
and so to bed
conjunction
7.
in order that; with the purpose that
usually followed by that talk louder so (that) everyone can hear
8.
with the result that; because of this
she smiled, so I did too
9. Archaic
if only; as long as; provided (that)
pronoun
10.
that which has been specified or named
they are friends and will remain so
11. see so1 (sense 4)
interjection
12.
Idioms:
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word origin
ME so, swo < OE swa, so, as, akin to Goth swa, OHG so < IE base *se-, *swe-, refl. particle
Word Frequency
so in American English 2
noun
Music
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word Frequency
so in American English 3
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word Frequency
so in American English 1
(sou)
adverb
1.
in the way or manner indicated, described, or implied
Do it so
4.
to the extent or degree indicated or suggested
Do not walk so fast
6.
very greatly
My head aches so!
7. (used before an adverb or an adverbial clause and fol. by as)
to such a degree or extent
so far as I know
8.
having the purpose of
a speech so commemorating the victory
9.
for this or that reason; hence; therefore
She is ill, and so cannot come to the party
10. (used as an affirmative to emphasize or confirm a previous statement)
most certainly
I said I would come, and so I will
11. (used as an emphatic affirmative to contradict a previous statement)
indeed; truly; too
I was so at the party!
12.
likewise or correspondingly; also; too
If he is going, then so am I
14.
in the way that follows; in this way
The audience was seated, and so the famous speech began
16.
in such way as to end in
So live your life that old age will bring you no regrets
17.
then; subsequently
and so to bed
18. See so much as
19. See so as
20. See only so many
21. See only so much
22. See so to speak
23. See so what?
conjunction
24. (often fol. by that)
in order that
Check carefully, so any mistakes will be caught
25. (often fol. by that)
with the result that
He checked carefully, so that the mistakes were caught
26.
on the condition that; if
pronoun
27.
such as has been stated
to be good and stay so
28.
something that is about or near the persons or things in question, as in number or
amount
Of the original twelve, five or so remain
29. See so much
interjection
SYNONYMS 9. See therefore.USAGE 5. The intensive so meaning “very or extremely” (Everything's so expensive these days) occurs chiefly in informal speech. In writing and formal speech, intensive so is most often followed by a completing that clause: Everything is so expensive that some families must struggle just to survive. 24, 25. The conjunction so (often followed by that) introduces clauses both of purpose (We ordered our tickets early so that we could get good seats) and of result (The river had frozen during the night so people walked across it all the next day). In formal speech and writing, so that is somewhat more common than so in clauses of purpose. Otherwise, either so or so that is standard. Like and, but1, and or, so can occur as a transitional word at the beginning of a sentence: So all our hard work finally brought results. See also as1, and, but1Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Word origin
[bef. 900; ME; OE swā; c. D zoo, G so, Goth swa]Word Frequency
so in American English 2
(sou)
noun
Music sol1
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Word Frequency
So. in American English
abbreviation
1.
South
2.
Southern
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Word Frequency
so in British English 1
adverb
1. (foll by an adjective or adverb and a correlative clause often introduced by that)
to such an extent
the river is so dirty that it smells
2. (used with a negative; it replaces the first as in an equative comparison)
to the same extent as
she is not so old as you
5. (not used with a negative; foll by an auxiliary verb or do, have, or be used as main verbs)
I can speak Spanish and so can you
8. See and so on
9. See just so
10. See or so
12. See so be it
13. See so much
14. See so much for
conjunction (subordinating; often foll by that)
15.
in order (that)
to die so that you might live
17. See so as
sentence connector
18.
in consequence; hence
she wasn't needed, so she left
19.
so you're publishing a book!
22. See so what!
pronoun
23.
you'll stop because I said so
exclamation
▶ USAGE In formal English, so is not used as a conjunction, to indicate either purpose (he left by a back door so he could avoid photographers) or result (the project was abandoned so his services were no longer needed). In the former case to or in order to should be used instead, and in the latter case and so or and therefore would be more acceptable. The expression so therefore should not be used25.
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word origin
Old English swā; related to Old Norse svā, Old High German sō, Dutch zooWord Frequency
so in British English 2
noun
music a variant spelling of soh
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word Frequency
so in British English 3
the internet domain name for
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word Frequency
SO in British English
abbreviation for
1.
2.
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word Frequency
S.O. in British English
baseball
abbreviation for
strike out
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
strike out in British English
Examples of 'so' in a sentence
so
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In other languages
so
British English: so
/səʊ/ ADVERB
referring to something already mentioned You use so to talk about something without repeating the same words.
If you don't like it, then say so.
- American English: so /ˈsoʊ/
- Arabic: كَذَلِكَ
- Brazilian Portuguese: isso
- Chinese: 这样
- Croatian: tako
- Czech: tak
- Danish: sådan
- Dutch: zo
- European Spanish: tan
- Finnish: niin
- French: ainsi
- German: so
- Greek: το
- Italian: così
- Japanese: そんなに
- Korean: 그와 같이
- Norwegian: så
- Polish: tak
- European Portuguese: isso
- Romanian: așa
- Russian: так
- Spanish: también, lo mismo reemplaza clásula, frase, palabra
- Swedish: så
- Thai: เช่นนั้น
- Turkish: öylesine
- Ukrainian: так
- Vietnamese: đến mức
British English: so
/səʊ/ CONJUNCTION
You use so and so that to talk about the reason for doing something.
They went outside so that nobody would hear them.
- American English: so /ˈsoʊ/
- Arabic: وَهَكَذَا
- Brazilian Portuguese: portanto
- Chinese: 同样
- Croatian: kako
- Czech: aby
- Danish: så
- Dutch: zodat
- European Spanish: de manera que
- Finnish: jotta
- French: pour
- German: damit
- Greek: ώστε
- Italian: perciò
- Japanese: ・・・するために
- Korean: 그래서
- Norwegian: slik (at)
- Polish: tak
- European Portuguese: portanto
- Romanian: astfel încât
- Russian: поэтому
- Spanish: de manera que
- Swedish: så
- Thai: เพื่อว่า
- Turkish: öyle ki
- Ukrainian: щоб
- Vietnamese: vì vậy
British English: so
/səʊ/ ADVERB
very You can use so in front of adjectives and adverbs to make them stronger.
They're friends, but they seem so different!
- American English: so /ˈsoʊ/
- Arabic: جِدّاً
- Brazilian Portuguese: tão
- Chinese: 非常的
- Croatian: tako
- Czech: tak
- Danish: så
- Dutch: zo
- European Spanish: tan
- Finnish: niin
- French: si tellement
- German: sonst
- Greek: τόσο
- Italian: così
- Japanese: とても
- Korean: 너무나
- Norwegian: så
- Polish: taki
- European Portuguese: tão
- Romanian: așa de
- Russian: настолько
- Spanish: tan
- Swedish: så
- Thai: มาก
- Turkish: çok
- Ukrainian: такий
- Vietnamese: quá
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so
Source
Definition of so from the Collins English Dictionary
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