until
uhn-TIHL
Until (prep) means Up to the point in time that something happens. Example: “We waited until sunrise before setting off.”
prep
1
Up to the point in time that something happens.
"We waited until sunrise before setting off."
"The shop stays open until nine o'clock every evening."
"Nobody spoke until the end of the film."
conj
1
Up to the time that a stated condition becomes true.
"Not until I got his email did I fully understand his disappointment."
"It took us a week before/until we got the house repainted."
"Stay here until I call you."
"It is never possible to settle down to the ordinary routine of life at sea until the screw begins to revolve. There is an hour or two, after the passengers have embarked, which is disquieting and fussy."
— George A. Birmingham pseudonym; James Owen Hannay (1915)
"Keep stirring the sauce until it thickens."
"I won't believe it until I see it with my own eyes."
How to use until
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMarks the point in time (or condition) up to which something continues.
Common mistake
'Until' and 'till' mean the same thing — 'till' is just the shorter, more informal form, not a misspelling.
Common pairings
until now
until further notice
wait until
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We waited _____ sunrise before setting off.
Etymology
From Middle English vntil, until, untill, ontil, ontill, perhaps representing a northern variant of Middle English unto (see Modern English unto). By surface analysis, un- (“against; toward; up to”) + till.
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “until” mean?
The word “until” means up to the point in time that something happens. In plain terms, marks the point in time (or condition) up to which something continues.
How do you pronounce “until”?
“Until” is pronounced uhn-TIHL (/ʌnˈtɪl/ in IPA).
How do you use “until” in a sentence?
Here is “until” used in a sentence: “We waited until sunrise before setting off.”
What is another word for “until”?
Words with a similar meaning to “until” include till, 'til, up to, unto, while and whilom.
What is the opposite of “until”?
The opposite of “until” — its antonyms — is since.
What part of speech is “until”?
Depending on how it is used, “until” can be a preposition and a conjunction.
Is “until” a common word?
“Until” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “until” have?
“Until” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: up to the point in time that something happens.
What is the difference between until and till?
'Until' and 'till' mean exactly the same thing and are both correct. 'Till' is not a lazy shortening of 'until' — it is actually the older word. In practice 'until' feels a little more formal and is the usual choice at the start of a sentence, while the clipped form 'til stays informal.
What is the difference between until and by?
'Until' describes something continuing right up to a point in time — 'wait until six'. 'By' sets a deadline meaning 'no later than' — 'finish it by six'. Use 'until' for an ongoing action that stops at that moment, and 'by' for something completed at any point beforehand.
What is the difference between until and unto?
Despite looking similar, they are not interchangeable. 'Until' refers to time, meaning up to a certain point. 'Unto' is an old-fashioned word meaning 'to' or 'towards', found mainly in older or biblical writing, as in 'do unto others'. In modern English, use 'until' for time and 'to' otherwise.
Can you start a sentence with 'until'?
Yes. You can open a sentence with 'until' to set up a condition or time frame, as in 'Until the results arrive, we can only wait.' A comma normally follows the opening clause. This structure simply moves the time reference to the front for emphasis.
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