<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

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    <periodOfReport>2004-06-04</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000096021</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SYSCO CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SYY</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001046852</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>STUBBLEFIELD JOHN K JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1390 ENCLAVE PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77077-2099</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Exec VP, Finance and Admin.</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

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                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
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            </transactionDate>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
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            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
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                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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                </transactionShares>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
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            </transactionTimeliness>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
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            </transactionTimeliness>
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                </transactionShares>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
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            </transactionTimeliness>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
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            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
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            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>John K. Stubblefield, Jr.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-06-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2004-06-04
0
0000096021
SYSCO CORP
SYY
0001046852
STUBBLEFIELD JOHN K JR
1390 ENCLAVE PARKWAY
HOUSTON
TX
77077-2099
1
1
0
0
Exec VP, Finance and Admin.
Common Stock
2004-06-04
4
S
0
2000.0000
37.24
D
89693.3486
D
Common Stock
2004-06-04
4
S
0
4336.0000
37.23
D
85357.3486
D
Common Stock
2004-06-04
4
S
0
1900.0000
37.22
D
83457.3486
D
Common Stock
2004-06-04
4
S
0
2300.0000
37.21
D
81157.3486
D
Common Stock
2004-06-04
4
S
0
1100.0000
37.20
D
80057.3486
D
Common Stock
2004-06-04
4
S
0
100.0000
37.19
D
79957.3486
D
John K. Stubblefield, Jr.
2004-06-07