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adv C2 Proficient Uncommon

hitherto

hih-thuh-TOO

Hitherto (adv) means Up until now, or up until the point being discussed. Example: “Hitherto, no one had questioned the results.”

adv
1
Up until now, or up until the point being discussed.
"Hitherto, no one had questioned the results."
"The hitherto unknown artist suddenly became famous."

How to use hitherto

Learner’s notes
When to use it

Formal; common in academic or legal writing but rare in everyday speech.

Common pairings
hitherto unknown hitherto unpublished
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Test yourself on “hitherto” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

_____, no one had questioned the results.

Etymology

From Middle English hiderto, combining hither ("to here") with to.

Origin: Middle English

as yet as of yet erenow herebefore hereto heretofore heretoforetime hereunto hereuntofore hithertofore so far thus far

Antonyms

Related words

Rhymes for hitherto

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Frequently asked questions

What does “hitherto” mean?

The word “hitherto” means up until now, or up until the point being discussed.

How do you pronounce “hitherto”?

“Hitherto” is pronounced hih-thuh-TOO (/ˈhɪðəɹˌtu/ in IPA).

How do you use “hitherto” in a sentence?

Here is “hitherto” used in a sentence: “Hitherto, no one had questioned the results.”

What is another word for “hitherto”?

Words with a similar meaning to “hitherto” include as yet, as of yet, erenow, herebefore, hereto and heretofore.

What is the opposite of “hitherto”?

The opposite of “hitherto” — its antonyms — are still and henceforth.

What part of speech is “hitherto”?

“Hitherto” is an adverb.

Where does the word “hitherto” come from?

The word “hitherto” comes from Middle English. From Middle English hiderto, combining hither ("to here") with to.

Is “hitherto” a common word?

“Hitherto” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.

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