hitherto
Americanadverb
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up to this time; until now.
a fact hitherto unknown.
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to here.
adverb
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until this time
hitherto, there have been no problems
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archaic to this place or point
adjective
Etymology
Origin of hitherto
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English hiderto; hither, to
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
To their initial astonishment, they have attracted a far wider viewership spanning all ages, even followers who hitherto had only scant interest in ballet.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026
A poorly cleared corner followed by an unfortunate deflection proved fatal to the hitherto impenetrable Parisian defence.
From Barron's • Jan. 20, 2026
The commodity price boom, especially pronounced in gold and metals, is generating some remarkable statistics and dramatically revising some hitherto well-established ratios.
From MarketWatch • Jan. 7, 2026
These include “demand has broadened, with hitherto dormant banks becoming active,” the council added.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 30, 2025
Dunstan had done guard duty many times before, but hitherto his task had consisted of simply standing, and, on occasion, shooing away children.
From "Stardust" by Neil Gaiman
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.
