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The Britannica Dictionary

so

42 ENTRIES FOUND:

¹ so /ˈsoʊ/ adverb

¹ so

/ˈsoʊ/

adverb

Britannica Dictionary definition of SO

a : to a degree that is suggested or stated

She had never felt so happy. [=had never felt as happy as she did then]
You shouldn't eat so fast. [=you should eat more slowly]
I don't think they can score twice in so short a time.
It was hot last summer—but less so than this summer. [=but not as hot as it was this summer]
The play was impressive—(all) the more so [=it was even more impressive] because the students had written it themselves.
There has always been an interest in genetic cloning, but never more so than in recent years.

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— often + that

She was so tired that she almost fell asleep at the dinner table.
The library is so large (that) you could get lost in it.

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— often used with as when making a comparison, when giving an example of some quality, or when describing someone or something

She had never been so [=as] nervous as when she performed for the queen.
His latest novel is not so suspenseful as his others.
How can you be so cruel as to criticize her weight?
Would you be so kind as to help me with my bags? [=would you please help me with my bags?]
Sailing is not so much a science as an art. [=sailing is more of an art than a science]

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— see also so much as (below)

b : to a great degree : very or extremely

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.
He loves her so. [=very much]
Not so long ago [=a short time ago], she was the nation's best gymnast.
I feel so much better after taking that nap.
Thank you so much for your help.
The game is so much fun. [=is very enjoyable]
He dislikes her so much that he won't even talk to her.
The test was not so very hard after all.

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◊ When this sense of so is used before an adjective alone, it is considered informal.

The apple pie tasted so good. [=tasted very good]
This computer is so out-of-date.

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c informal : without any doubt — used to make a statement more forceful

I so don't believe you.
I so wanted them to win.
That was so not the right thing to say!
That shirt is so you. [=it looks like something you would wear; it is very typical of your style]
Her hairstyle is so 1980s. [=it's out of date and looks like the hairstyles that were popular in the 1980s]
It's so not fair. [=it's very unfair]

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: to a definite but not specified amount

“He is about so tall,” she said, raising her hand about six feet in the air.
I can only move so fast.
I have never seen so many geese on one pond before.
I can only do so many things at a time.
I can do only so much in a day.
There is still so much to be done before the guests arrive.
There is only so much negative criticism a person can take. [=a person can only take a certain amount of negative criticism]
The house burned like so much paper. [=like something made of paper]
The explanation sounded like so much [=like a lot of] nonsense.

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: in the same way

She was always a hard worker and so was her father. [=and her father was too]
“I'm going to the concert.” “So am I.” [=I am also going]
“I wish I had a coffee right now.” “So do I.” [=I do too]
(US, informal) “I really like her music.” “So don't I.” [=so do I; I do too]

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: in the way that is stated or suggested

The bell rang, we took our seats, and so began another new school year.

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— often + that

The football arena was so designed that every seat had a good view of the field.
It (just) so happens that I know her son. [=I happen to know her son]

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informal : most certainly

“I never said that” “You did so.” [=too, indeed]
“You're not really leaving.” “I am so.”

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and so forth

or and so on

: and other things often of the same or similar kind

Magazines, newspapers, journals, and so forth are on the second floor of the library.
She wanted to know about my family, my childhood, my hopes and fears, (and so on) and so forth.
I bought milk, eggs, bread, and so on.

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even so

— see ²even

ever so

— see ever

every so often

— see every

how so

— see ¹how

never so much as

— see never

so far

— see ¹far

so help me (God)

— see ¹help

so long

— see ²long

so much

: an amount, price, etc., that is not stated or known

You are charged so much a mile when renting a vehicle.
You can only believe so much of what he says. [=you can only believe some of what he says]

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so much as

— used after a negative word (such as not or a contraction of not) to stress the smallness of an amount or effort

We didn't hear so much as a word from her the whole time. [=we didn't hear a word from her]
Not only did they not help, they didn't so much as [=even] offer to help!
They ended their date without so much as a hug.

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— see also ¹so 1a (above)

so much for

informal

— used to say that everything that can be said about or done with something or someone has been said or done

So much for the history of the case. Now we'll look at its implications.
Well, so much for that idea. [=that idea was not successful] We'll have to try something else.

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— used to say that something has ended

Well, it's raining. So much for our perfect weather.

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so much so (that)

: to the extent that

The twins look alike—so much so that even their parents sometimes confuse them. [=the twins look so alike that even their parents sometimes confuse them]

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so much the better

— see ³better

so to speak

— see speak

² so /ˈsoʊ/ pronoun

² so

/ˈsoʊ/

pronoun

Britannica Dictionary definition of SO

— used to refer to something that has just been stated or suggested

“Has she left?” “I believe so.” [=I believe she has left]
If you have not yet returned the form, please do so immediately. [=please return it immediately]
“Is it true?” “I think/hope so.”
They're going to help us move, or so they said.
If you wanted to leave early, you should have said so.
“They're getting married.” “Really? Who said so?”
“I heard you're moving to New York.” “Who told you so?” [=who told you that?]
I didn't like the dress and told her so. [=told her I didn't like it]
“Is he coming to the meeting?” “So he says.” [=he says he's coming]
“You were late this morning.” “So I was—what's it to you?”
I might be late. If so [=if I am late], please start the meeting without me.
Fold the paper like so. [=like this]
If they insist on going, so be it. [=if they insist on going, they will go, and there is nothing I can do to stop them]
“Today is the first day of winter.” “Why, so it is.”

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if I may say so

— see ¹say

or so

— used to say that a number, amount, etc., is not exact

We plan to stay a week or so. [=we plan to stay about a week]
Tickets cost $20 or so.

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³ so /ˈsoʊ/ conjunction

³ so

/ˈsoʊ/

conjunction

Britannica Dictionary definition of SO

: for that reason : and therefore

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.

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— used to say the reason for something

Please be quiet so I can study.
She pulled him to the side so that no one else could hear their conversation.
Let's get there early so that we can get good seats.

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— used in speech to introduce a statement or question

So here we are.
So, we meet at last!
So, as I was saying, the car is used but in good condition.
So, how did the test go?

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— used in speech to say in a somewhat rude or annoyed way that something is unimportant

So I mispronounced the word. You still understood what I meant.
“I'm taller than you!” “So?”
She has a glass of wine now and then—so what? = So what if she has a glass of wine now and then? [=why should anyone object if she has a glass of wine now and then?]