Sometimes, saying “as soon as possible” gets a little old, especially in everyday talk or emails. Whether you’re chatting with a coworker, messaging a friend, or texting your boss, having different ways to say it keeps your conversations fresh and clear. Plus, some situations call for a softer tone—or a more direct one. That’s why we’ve put together 40 simple and natural phrases that mean the same thing, with examples you can use right away. From friendly to formal, there’s something here for every kind of moment when you need something done quickly—but not always in the same words.
What Does “As Soon as Possible” Mean?
“As soon as possible” is a phrase we use when something needs to be done quickly—but without giving an exact time. It basically means, “Do it fast, but use your judgment.” The tricky part? What’s “soon” for one person might not be soon enough for someone else.
It’s vague on purpose, which can be helpful or confusing, depending on the situation. You’ll hear it at work, in texts, in customer service… pretty much everywhere. It’s a polite way of saying, “Don’t wait around,” but without barking orders.
When to Use “As Soon as Possible”
You should use “as soon as possible” when you need something completed urgently, but not necessarily at a specific time. It’s particularly useful when:
- A deadline is flexible but prompt action is preferred
(e.g., “Please send the report as soon as possible.”) - You’re requesting help or a favor and want to remain polite
(e.g., “Can you review this document as soon as possible?”) - There’s an unexpected issue that needs quick attention
(e.g., “We need to resolve this bug as soon as possible.”)
That said, in professional communication, it’s often better to be more specific when urgency truly matters. Instead of saying “ASAP,” consider offering a concrete time or date to avoid misunderstandings and ensure alignment on expectations.
40 Ways to Say “As Soon as Possible“
1. ASAP
Meaning: As Soon As Possible
Explanation: A commonly used acronym to express urgency.
Example: “Please send me the report ASAP.”
Best Use: Informal emails, texting, quick work requests.
Worst Use: Formal business proposals or legal communication.
Tone: Urgent, informal
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2. Right away
Meaning: Immediately or without delay
Explanation: A direct and clear expression to indicate prompt action.
Example: “I’ll get that done right away.”
Best Use: Verbal requests, customer service, casual office talk
Worst Use: When the task actually needs planning or time
Tone: Direct, helpful
3. Immediately
Meaning: At once, without delay
Explanation: A formal and strong word to show something must happen now.
Example: “This needs your attention immediately.”
Best Use: Emergency emails, instructions, formal settings
Worst Use: Casual chats where some delay is acceptable
Tone: Formal, urgent
4. At your earliest convenience
Meaning: As soon as you are able to
Explanation: A polite way of asking someone to prioritize something
Example: “Please review the document at your earliest convenience.”
Best Use: Polite requests in professional or formal settings
Worst Use: Time-sensitive or emergency situations
Tone: Courteous, formal
5. Promptly
Meaning: Without delay, quickly
Explanation: Often used in professional contexts to request timely action.
Example: “Please respond promptly to the client.”
Best Use: Business emails, contracts, policies
Worst Use: Friendly or casual messages
Tone: Professional, neutral
6. When you get a chance
Meaning: At your next available moment
Explanation: Suggests the task is not urgent
Example: “Could you check this file when you get a chance?”
Best Use: Casual tasks, non-urgent requests
Worst Use: Anything requiring immediate attention
Tone: Relaxed, considerate
7. When possible
Meaning: At a convenient or feasible time
Explanation: Offers flexibility while still requesting action
Example: “Please send me the details when possible.”
Best Use: Delegating flexible tasks
Worst Use: Critical or time-bound tasks
Tone: Neutral, accommodating
8. At once
Meaning: Right now, without delay
Explanation: A slightly old-fashioned way to say “immediately”
Example: “Come to my office at once.”
Best Use: Dramatic or strong commands
Worst Use: Friendly conversation or casual messages
Tone: Authoritative, formal
9. Without delay
Meaning: Immediately, now
Explanation: Emphasizes no time should be lost
Example: “We must act without delay.”
Best Use: Official memos, warnings, high-priority tasks
Worst Use: Casual conversation
Tone: Serious, formal
10. Quickly
Meaning: Fast, in a short time
Explanation: Commonly used in daily language to express urgency
Example: “We need to fix this quickly.”
Best Use: Any context requiring urgency
Worst Use: Requests needing care or precision
Tone: Neutral, urgent
11. At the earliest opportunity
Meaning: As soon as there’s a chance
Explanation: Slightly formal version of “when possible”
Example: “Please call me back at the earliest opportunity.”
Best Use: Emails, professional or polite communication
Worst Use: Casual speech or texts
Tone: Formal, polite
12. At the first chance
Meaning: As soon as there’s time to do it
Explanation: Emphasizes priority without demanding urgency
Example: “I’ll get to it at the first chance I get.”
Best Use: Friendly work discussions
Worst Use: Time-critical requests
Tone: Casual, flexible
13. In a timely manner
Meaning: Within an appropriate or expected time
Explanation: Focuses on meeting expected timeframes
Example: “Please complete the assignment in a timely manner.”
Best Use: Guidelines, project management
Worst Use: Urgent or crisis situations
Tone: Professional, moderate
14. Stat
Meaning: Immediately (medical jargon)
Explanation: Originally from medical settings, now used for humor or emphasis
Example: “We need that file on my desk, stat!”
Best Use: Informal urgency, playful office talk
Worst Use: Formal or serious communication
Tone: Intense, sometimes humorous
15. Like yesterday
Meaning: Implies it’s already late
Explanation: Emphasizes the task should’ve been done already
Example: “I needed those numbers like yesterday!”
Best Use: Informal, humorous urgency
Worst Use: Professional or respectful communication
Tone: Exaggerated, humorous
16. As soon as you can
Meaning: As quickly as possible
Explanation: A more casual, polite way of requesting urgency
Example: “Let me know as soon as you can.”
Best Use: Casual conversation, polite requests
Worst Use: Formal work settings
Tone: Polite, friendly
17. Urgently
Meaning: Requiring immediate attention
Explanation: Expresses the need for something to be handled right away
Example: “I need this urgently, please.”
Best Use: Professional contexts requiring quick actions
Worst Use: Friendly or non-urgent communication
Tone: Formal, serious
18. Posthaste
Meaning: As fast as possible
Explanation: An old-fashioned way of saying “immediately”
Example: “Send me the report posthaste.”
Best Use: Strong, formal communications
Worst Use: Casual or modern contexts
Tone: Formal, archaic
19. This minute
Meaning: Right now, this very moment
Explanation: Emphasizes immediate action
Example: “I need that report this minute.”
Best Use: Urgent tasks or requests
Worst Use: Non-urgent requests
Tone: Very urgent, commanding
20. In no time
Meaning: Very quickly, almost instantly
Explanation: Implies that the task can be done in a short amount of time
Example: “I’ll have it done in no time!”
Best Use: Casual settings, reassuring someone
Worst Use: Professional settings requiring serious timelines
Tone: Casual, optimistic
21. With all due speed
Meaning: As quickly as possible, but still with consideration
Explanation: Emphasizes urgency while maintaining professionalism
Example: “Please attend to this with all due speed.”
Best Use: Professional, polite urgency
Worst Use: Informal or playful contexts
Tone: Formal, polite
22. In the blink of an eye
Meaning: Very quickly, almost instantly
Explanation: A figurative way of saying “immediately”
Example: “I’ll finish this in the blink of an eye.”
Best Use: Casual or motivational speech
Worst Use: When precision is necessary
Tone: Playful, informal
23. Before long
Meaning: In a short time, but with flexibility
Explanation: Not as urgent as some others, but still conveys a prompt request
Example: “I’ll get back to you before long.”
Best Use: Casual, polite timeframes
Worst Use: Urgent tasks or emergencies
Tone: Friendly, relaxed
24. At the drop of a hat
Meaning: Immediately, without hesitation
Explanation: Implies readiness to act instantly
Example: “I’ll come over at the drop of a hat.”
Best Use: Informal, spontaneous requests
Worst Use: Professional or formal settings
Tone: Casual, enthusiastic
25. Without wasting time
Meaning: Immediately, without any delay
Explanation: Suggests doing something efficiently and quickly
Example: “We must address this without wasting time.”
Best Use: Professional meetings, serious requests
Worst Use: Casual or laid-back contexts
Tone: Serious, urgent
26. Before it’s too late
Meaning: As soon as possible to avoid negative outcomes
Explanation: Often used to suggest urgency tied to a time constraint
Example: “You need to respond before it’s too late.”
Best Use: When dealing with time-sensitive issues
Worst Use: Casual situations
Tone: Urgent, cautionary
27. In short order
Meaning: Quickly, in a short amount of time
Explanation: Emphasizes quick completion of a task
Example: “I’ll have this resolved in short order.”
Best Use: Professional settings, urgent requests
Worst Use: Casual conversations
Tone: Professional, business-like
28. On the double
Meaning: Immediately, with haste
Explanation: A military term used to indicate urgency
Example: “Get that done on the double.”
Best Use: High-priority or military-style requests
Worst Use: Informal or overly relaxed settings
Tone: Commanding, urgent
29. Straightaway
Meaning: Without delay, right away
Explanation: A slightly formal term for immediate action
Example: “I need you to do this straightaway.”
Best Use: Formal or professional situations
Worst Use: Casual or informal conversations
Tone: Formal, direct
30. In an instant
Meaning: Right away, immediately
Explanation: Implies something will happen as soon as possible
Example: “I’ll get back to you in an instant.”
Best Use: Quick responses or promises
Worst Use: Tasks requiring careful planning
Tone: Optimistic, enthusiastic
31. Without further ado
Meaning: Immediately, without delay
Explanation: A formal phrase that signals prompt action
Example: “Let’s begin without further ado.”
Best Use: Presentations, formal settings
Worst Use: Informal communication
Tone: Formal, polished
32. In a flash
Meaning: Very quickly, in an instant
Explanation: Suggests extreme speed
Example: “I’ll finish this in a flash!”
Best Use: Informal, energetic settings
Worst Use: Professional or formal requests
Tone: Light-hearted, fast-paced
33. Right off the bat
Meaning: Immediately, from the start
Explanation: Implies action will be taken immediately or without delay
Example: “Let’s get to work right off the bat.”
Best Use: Informal meetings or discussions
Worst Use: Formal work environments
Tone: Casual, direct
34. On the spot
Meaning: Right there and then, without delay
Explanation: Suggests immediate action or decision-making
Example: “I’ll make the decision on the spot.”
Best Use: Quick decisions or urgent action
Worst Use: Situations requiring deliberation or analysis
Tone: Firm, direct
35. At once and without hesitation
Meaning: Immediately and decisively
Explanation: A more formal version of “at once” with added emphasis
Example: “You must act at once and without hesitation.”
Best Use: Emergency situations or serious orders
Worst Use: Casual or non-urgent conversations
Tone: Authoritative, urgent
36. Without skipping a beat
Meaning: Immediately and without any interruption
Explanation: A figurative expression that indicates no delays or pauses
Example: “She replied without skipping a beat.”
Best Use: Casual conversations, quick responses
Worst Use: When precision and careful thought are needed
Tone: Informal, fast-paced
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37. In no time flat
Meaning: Very quickly, without delay
Explanation: Implies speed in completing a task
Example: “I’ll get it to you in no time flat.”
Best Use: Casual, quick-task situations
Worst Use: Professional or serious deadlines
Tone: Informal, confident
38. On the fly
Meaning: Done quickly, with little preparation
Explanation: Implies taking immediate action, often without prior planning
Example: “I’ll fix that on the fly.”
Best Use: Fast, spontaneous tasks
Worst Use: Tasks requiring detailed planning or thought
Tone: Casual, quick-thinking
39. As fast as humanly possible
Meaning: As quickly as it can be done by anyone
Explanation: Indicates maximum possible speed
Example: “I’ll get that to you as fast as humanly possible.”
Best Use: Time-sensitive tasks requiring utmost urgency
Worst Use: Casual or unimportant requests
Tone: Intense, urgent
40. As quick as a flash
Meaning: Very fast
Explanation: A playful and fast way of indicating immediate action
Example: “I’ll get it to you as quick as a flash!”
Best Use: Informal, quick-response situations
Worst Use: Professional, high-stakes tasks
Tone: Fun, energetic
Conclusion
You don’t have to stick with “as soon as possible” every time. With these 40 handy alternatives, you can match your tone to the moment—whether you’re being polite, firm, or just keeping things casual. Language is about connection, and the way we say things matters. So next time you’re in a rush, pick the phrase that fits best—and keeps the conversation flowing.
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