until

American  

[uhn-til] / ʌnˈtɪl /

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.

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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 British  

/ 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

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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

until Idioms  

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

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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

Commonly Confused

See till ¹.

Etymology

Origin of until

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

Example Sentences

“We are increasingly cautious on the short to mid-term outlook until delivery consistency improves,” analyst Ross Bennett says.

From The Wall Street Journal

She had seen several class offerings come through over the years, but nothing really captured her interest until she saw a basket-weaving class offered by master basket maker Abe Sanchez, as part of the tribe’s ongoing effort to revive the skill among its members.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s all part of the tapestry of your life and you’re not really examining your life until somebody does that for you and you go, “Oh, man. I’m old.”

From Los Angeles Times

I do have that voice from my old man going, “Don’t come back and look me in the eye until you do this.”

From Los Angeles Times

The players fondly recalled JOP’s rigor in the studio; one night he stayed up until 4 a.m. with the trio to help configure the beats on their latest record, “Mija No Te Asustes.”

From Los Angeles Times