Dictionary
1so
adverb \ˈsō, especially before adjective or adv followed by “that” sə\
: to a degree that is suggested or stated
: to a great degree : very or extremely
: without any doubt
Full Definition of SO
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 1 <for so the Lord said — Isa 18:4(Authorized Version)> d : then, subsequently <and so home and to bed>
2
a : to an indicated or suggested extent or degree <had never been so happy> 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 : most decidedly : surely <I so don't believe you>
3
: therefore, consequently <the witness is biased and so unreliable>
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See so defined for kids
Usage Discussion of SO
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 — Times Literary Supplement>. 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.
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Origin of SO
Middle English, from Old English swā; akin to Old High German sō so, Latin sic so, thus, si if, Greek hōs so, thus, Latin suus one's own — more at suicide
First Known Use: before 12th century
Related to SO
- Synonyms
- accordingly, consequently, ergo, hence, therefore, thereupon, thus, wherefore
- Antonyms
- differently, dissimilarly, otherwise
Rhymes with SO
beau, blow, bow, bro, Chou, crow, do, doe, dough, floe, flow, foe, fro, froe, glow, go, grow, ho, hoe, jo, Jo, joe, know, lo, low, mho, mot, mow, no, No, O, oh, owe, Poe, pow, pro, rho, roe, row, Rowe, schmo, sew, show, sloe, slow, snow, sow, stow, Stowe, strow, though, throe, throw, toe, tow, trow, whoa, woe, yo
2so
conjunction
: for that reason : and therefore
—used to say the reason for something
—used in speech to introduce a statement or question
Full Definition of SO
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
— so as to
: in order to
See so defined for English-language learners
Usage Discussion of SO
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.
First Known Use of SO
before 12th century
3so
adjective
: agreeing with actual facts
Full Definition of SO
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 mine — Sally Kempton>
See so defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of SO
before 12th century
4so
pronoun
—used to refer to something that has just been stated or suggested
Full Definition of SO
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>
See so defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of SO
before 12th century
5so
Definition of SO
variant of sol
6so
abbreviation
Definition of SO
south; southern
SO
abbreviation
SO Defined for Kids
1so
adverb \ˈsō\
Definition of SO for Kids
1
: in the way indicated <I said I'd go and did so.>
2
: in the same way : also <They wrote well and so did you.>
3
: 1then 2 <Wash your face and so to bed.>
4
: to an indicated extent or way <He had never felt so well.> <Don't be so rude!>
6
: to a definite but not specified amount <A person can do only so much in a day.>
7
: most certainly : indeed <You did so say it!>
8
: therefore <I'm honest and so told the truth.>
2so
conjunction
Definition of SO for Kids
1
: in order that <Be quiet so I can sleep!>
2
: and therefore <We were hungry, so we ate.>
3so
pronoun \ˈsō\
Definition of SO for Kids
1
: the same : that <They told me so.>
2
: approximately that <I'd been there a month or so.>
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