やがて

adverb

before long, soon

1. before long, soon, eventually

Indicates that something will happen after a period of time, but not immediately.

やがて春(はる)が来(く)る。

Spring will come before long.

雨(あめ)はやがて止(や)んだ。

The rain eventually stopped.

子供(こども)はやがて大人(おとな)になった。

Children will eventually become adults.

長(なが)い冬(ふゆ)が終(お)わり、やがて暖(あたた)かい日(ひ)が続(つづ)くようになった。

The long winter ended, and before long warm days became the norm.

彼(かれ)は若(わか)い頃(ころ)苦労(くろう)したが、やがて自分(じぶん)の会社(かいしゃ)を持(も)つまでになった。

He struggled when he was young, but eventually he came to own his own company.

やがて suggests that something will happen naturally after a period of time. It implies inevitability and gradual progression rather than sudden change.

USAGE:
Typically used in written or slightly formal contexts. Often appears in narratives to describe the natural passage of time or the inevitable outcome of a process.

SIMILAR WORDS:

やがて: before long, eventually (gradual, natural progression)
遂(つい)に: finally, at last (after a long wait)
そのうち: before long, sometime soon (casual)

core

Added 2026.1.13 1:01 · Revised 2026.5.27 4:11

03500/03637_yagate