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hitherto unpublished
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_____, no one had questioned the results.
Etymology
From Middle English hiderto, combining hither ("to here") with to.
Synonyms
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as yet
as of yet
erenow
herebefore
hereto
heretofore
heretoforetime
hereunto
hereuntofore
hithertofore
so far
thus far
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for hitherto
See all rhymes for hitherto →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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