til
4 synonyms for til, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Prep — Up to the point in time when; used the same way as "till" or "until."
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
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Etymology
The time-related sense comes from Old English til ("to, until"), likely reinforced by a related Old Norse word — the same root that gives us "till." The sesame sense is unrelated and comes through Hindi/Sanskrit tila.
Full origin of til →Frequently asked questions
What does “til” mean?
The word “til” means up to the point in time when; used the same way as "till" or "until.". In plain terms, a shorter, informal spelling of "till/until"; separately, in South Asian cooking, the name for sesame.
How do you pronounce “til”?
“Til” is pronounced tihl (/tɪl/ in IPA).
How do you use “til” in a sentence?
Here is “til” used in a sentence: “We danced til the sun came up.”
What part of speech is “til”?
Depending on how it is used, “til” can be a preposition and a noun.
Where does the word “til” come from?
The word “til” comes from Old English. The time-related sense comes from Old English til ("to, until"), likely reinforced by a related Old Norse word — the same root that gives us "till." The sesame sense is unrelated and comes through Hindi/Sanskrit tila.
Is “til” a common word?
“Til” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “til” have?
“Til” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: up to the point in time when; used the same way as "till" or "until.".
What is the difference between til, till, and until?
All three can mean "up to the point in time when": until is the standard form and safe in any context, till is also long-established and correct though a little more informal, and til is an informal variant spelling of till. In formal writing, choose until or till rather than til.
Is 'til with an apostrophe correct?
The apostrophe version 'til is widespread in informal writing and song titles, but many editors and style guides recommend against it, preferring till or until. If you want a form no one will question, use until.
Can you use til in formal writing?
It is best avoided. Til is an informal spelling, and formal writing normally uses until, or till. Reserve til for casual messages, dialogue, and other relaxed contexts.
