What it means
やがて is an adverb meaning “soon,” “before long,” or “eventually.” It describes a change or event expected to happen after some time, often suggesting a natural progression toward that result. The time span is flexible and may be relatively short or quite long depending on the context. やがて is common in written, narrative, and somewhat formal descriptions, and it usually appears before the clause it modifies.
Usage note
やがて does not necessarily mean “immediately”; it emphasizes that something will happen in due course. For an event expected to happen very shortly, すぐに or まもなく may be more appropriate.
How to use it
やがて春が来ます。
Spring will come before long.
やがて春が来る。
Spring will come before long.
Example sentences
長く続いた雨も、やがて止むだろう。
The rain that has continued for a long time will probably stop before long.
駅前の工事は来月終わり、やがて新しい広場が完成する予定です。
The construction in front of the station will finish next month, and before long, the new plaza is scheduled to be completed.
毎朝練習を続ければ、やがて難しい曲