Meaning & use
tout suite
Last updated
Meanings
adverbinformal
Immediately or very soon; used to say something must be done right away.
Grammar: Comes from French 'tout de suite' and works like 'right away'; it usually goes at the end of a sentence.
Patterns
- do something tout suite
- be there tout suite
Finish your homework tout suite, or we'll miss the movie.
She called the doctor and he told her to come in tout suite.
If the client emails, answer tout suite — don't wait until tomorrow.
phrasefixed phraseinformal
A nonstandard spelling of the French phrase 'tout de suite', meaning at once.
Grammar: Used as a fixed adverbial phrase; it is not split or changed.
Patterns
- tout de suite
In English the phrase is usually written 'tout de suite', not 'tout suite'.
He said 'tout de suite' with a heavy accent, meaning right away.
Common combinations
- do something tout suite
- The manager wants those numbers tout suite.
- come tout suite
- Come tout suite — the taxi is waiting.
- get something done tout suite
- We need this report done tout suite.
- tout de suite (standard spelling)
- She replied tout de suite, without a moment's pause.
Synonyms and how they differ
- immediately
- Neutral and standard; use it in formal writing where 'tout suite' would sound too casual.
- right away
- The most common everyday equivalent, and safer for learners than the French borrowing.
- at once
- Slightly more formal than 'right away' and often used in instructions.
Opposites
Word family
- tout de suite phrase
- The standard French spelling, also used in English writing.
Commonly confused: tout suite or tout?
tout suite vs tout
'Tout' alone is a different word: as a verb it means to praise or promote something. 'Tout suite' is only the hurried way of writing 'tout de suite'.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'tout suite' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Tout suite' means 'right away' and fits at the end of a sentence about doing something quickly. Option 1 uses it as a preposition, option 2 as a comparison, and option 3 as a noun, none of which match its adverbial meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “tout suite”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.