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View synonyms for until

until

[ uhn-til ]

conjunction

  1. up to the time that or when; till:

    He read until his guests arrived.

  2. before (usually used in negative constructions):

    They did not come until the meeting was half over.



preposition

  1. onward to or till (a specified time or occurrence):

    She worked until 6 p.m.

  2. before (usually used in negative constructions):

    He did not go until night.

  3. Scot. and North England. to; unto.

until

/ ʌnˈtɪl /

conjunction

  1. up to (a time) that

    he laughed until he cried

  2. used with a negative before (a time or event)

    until you change, you can't go out

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


preposition

  1. often preceded by up in or throughout the period before

    he waited until six

  2. used with a negative earlier than; before

    he won't come until tomorrow

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Usage

The use of until such time as (as in industrial action will continue until such time as our demands are met ) is unnecessary and should be avoided: industrial action will continue until our demands are met
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Confusables Note

See till 1.
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Word History and Origins

Origin of until1

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English untill, from un- (from Old Norse unz “up to, as far as”) + till till 1
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Word History and Origins

Origin of until1

C13 untill; related to Old High German unt unto, until, Old Norse und; see till 1
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Idioms and Phrases

see put off until tomorrow ; talk one's arm off (until blue in the face) . Also see under till .
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Example Sentences

It may be fun and it may get them paid, until oversaturation ruins our sense for irony and destroys the market for it.

In other words, the free speech exhibited by the folks at Charlie Hebdo was not virtuous—until there was a body count.

That would truly be a milestone to celebrate—until you see what that record “diversity” actually means.

At the time (and until 1913), U.S. senators were not popularly elected but were selected by the state legislature.

Their leader, Njie, still going by “Dave” during the operation, would stay a safe distance away until the State House was secure.

The plant as a whole remains green until late in the autumn.

He didn't need to wait—as the birds did—until an angleworm stuck his head above ground.

No man should regard the subject of religion as decided for him until he has read The Golden Bough.

Here is a chair, Monsieur Arden; but you can hardly see it until your eyes have grown a little accustomed to our crpuscula.

Aguinaldo withheld his decision until Paterno could report to him the definite opinions of his generals.

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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