until

[ uhn-til ]

See synonyms for until on Thesaurus.com

conjunction

up to the time that or when; till: He read until his guests arrived.
before (usually used in negative constructions): They did not come until the meeting was half over.

preposition

onward to or till (a specified time or occurrence): She worked until 6 p.m.
before (usually used in negative constructions): He did not go until night.

Scot. and North England. to; unto.

Origin of until

1150–1200; Middle English untill, equivalent to un- (<Old Norse unz up to, as far as) + tilltill¹

confusables note For until

See till¹.

Words Nearby until

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use until in a sentence

It may be fun and it may get them paid, until oversaturation ruins our sense for irony and destroys the market for it.
Trolls and Martyrdom: Je Ne Suis Pas Charlie | Arthur Chu | January 9, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
In other words, the free speech exhibited by the folks at Charlie Hebdo was not virtuous—until there was a body count.
Politicians Only Love Journalists When They're Dead | Luke O’Neil | January 8, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
That would truly be a milestone to celebrate—until you see what that record “diversity” actually means.
The Unbearable Whiteness of Congress | Dean Obeidallah | January 8, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
At the time (and until 1913), U.S. senators were not popularly elected but were selected by the state legislature.
The Black Man Who Replaced Jefferson Davis in the Senate | Philip Dray | January 7, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
Their leader, Njie, still going by “Dave” during the operation, would stay a safe distance away until the State House was secure.
The Shadowy U.S. Veteran Who Tried to Overthrow a Country | Jacob Siegel | January 6, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST

The plant as a whole remains green until late in the autumn.
How to Know the Ferns | S. Leonard Bastin
He didn't need to wait—as the birds did—until an angleworm stuck his head above ground.
The Tale of Grandfather Mole | Arthur Scott Bailey
No man should regard the subject of religion as decided for him until he has read The Golden Bough.
God and my Neighbour | Robert Blatchford
Here is a chair, Monsieur Arden; but you can hardly see it until your eyes have grown a little accustomed to our crpuscula.
Checkmate | Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
Aguinaldo withheld his decision until Paterno could report to him the definite opinions of his generals.
The Philippine Islands | John Foreman

British Dictionary definitions for until

until

/ (ʌnˈtɪl) /

conjunction(subordinating)

up to (a time) that: he laughed until he cried
(used with a negative) before (a time or event): until you change, you can't go out

preposition

(often preceded by up) in or throughout the period before: he waited until six
(used with a negative) earlier than; before: he won't come until tomorrow

Origin of until

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

usage For until

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

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with until

until

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

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