so
/səʊ/ adverbDefinition
VERY › used before an adjective or adverb to emphasize what you are saying, especially when there is a particular result: I was so tired when I got home. I love her so much. [+ (that)] I was so upset that I couldn't speak.
ANSWER › used to give a short answer to a question to avoid repeating a phrase: "Is Ben coming to the party?" "I hope so."
so did we/so have I/so is mine, etc › used to say that someone else also does something or that the same thing is true about someone or something else: "We saw the new Star Trek movie last night." "Oh, so did we."
GET ATTENTION › used to get someone's attention when you are going to ask them a question or when you are going to start talking: So, when are you two going to get married?
SHOW SOMETHING › used with a movement of your hand to show someone how to do something or show them the size of something: The box was so big. For this exercise, you have to put your hands like so.
so it is/so they are, etc › used to agree with something that you had not noticed before: "The cat's hiding under the chair." "So it is."
or so › used after a number or amount to show that it is not exact: "How many people were at the party?" "Fifty or so, I guess."
I told you so › used to say that you were right and that someone should have believed you
So (what)? › used to say that you do not think something is important, especially in a rude way: "She might tell Emily." "So what?"
and so on/forth › used after a list of things to show that you could have added other similar things: She plays a lot of tennis and squash and so on.
so as (not) to do sth › used to give the reason for doing something: He went in very quietly so as not to wake the baby.
only so much/many › used to say that there are limits to something: There's only so much help you can give someone.
so much for... informal › used to say that something has not been useful or successful: "The computer's crashed again." "So much for modern technology."
(Definition of so adverb from the Cambridge Learner's Dictionary
© Cambridge University Press)
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