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

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-03-04</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001128603</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SPITLER KENNETH F</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>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>ExecVP,Foodservice Operations</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

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            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-03-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2000.0000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
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                <value></value>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <postTransactionAmounts>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                </transactionShares>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionShares>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
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            <transactionAmounts>
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                </transactionShares>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
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            <postTransactionAmounts>
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                </transactionShares>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
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                </transactionShares>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>62872.0000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Family Limited Partnership</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
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                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Kenneth F. Spitler</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-03-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0201
4
2004-03-04
0
0000096021
SYSCO CORP
SYY
0001128603
SPITLER KENNETH F
1390 ENCLAVE PARKWAY
HOUSTON
TX
77077-2099
0
1
0
0
ExecVP,Foodservice Operations
Common Stock
2004-03-04
4
S
0
2000.0000
39.45
D
57754.5986
D
Common Stock
2004-03-04
4
S
0
2000.0000
39.46
D
55754.5986
D
Common Stock
2004-03-04
4
S
0
2000.0000
39.47
D
53754.5986
D
Common Stock
2004-03-04
4
S
0
1000.0000
39.50
D
52754.5986
D
Common Stock
2004-03-04
4
S
0
1000.0000
39.51
D
51754.5986
D
Common Stock
2004-03-04
4
S
0
1000.0000
39.52
D
50754.5986
D
Common Stock
2004-03-04
4
S
0
1000.0000
39.53
D
49754.5986
D
Common Stock
62872.0000
I
By Family Limited Partnership
Common Stock
190.0000
I
By Trust
Kenneth F. Spitler
2004-03-05