What does "until" mean?
Up to the time of (something happening); pending.
Until
/ʌnˈtɪl/ conj, prep
conj, prep ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Up to the time of (something happening); pending.
- Grammar: until is listed as conj, prep.
- Nearest alternatives: 'til, 'til, adhere to original terms, apply liquid to soil.
- Useful contrasts: strong push for reform, while, as of.
- Usage evidence: Class doesn't begin until eight-thirty.
How to use "until"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "until" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "until" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "until" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "until" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "until" is acting as conj, prep in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "'til" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "until", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Preposition
- 1 Up to the time of (something happening); pending.
"If you can wait until after my meeting with her, we'll talk then."
- 2 Up to (a certain place)
"Keep walking until the second set of traffic lights, then turn left."
- 3 Before (a time).
"I was about to say that I had known the Celebrity from the time he wore kilts. But I see I will have to amend that, because he was not a celebrity then, nor, indeed, did he achieve fame until some time after I left New York for the West."
- 4 To; physically towards. obsolete
"He rousd himselfe full blith, and hastned them untill."
- 5 Up to the time that the foods or other things available to sell, or tasks which need to be completed, run out.
"Bake sale on Saturday, 2pm until."
Conjunction
- 1 Up to the time that (a condition becomes true).
"Not until I got his email did I fully understand his disappointment."
- 2 Before (a condition becoming true).
"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."
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"Class doesn't begin until eight-thirty."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "until"?
Common synonyms include: 'til, 'til, adhere to original terms, apply liquid to soil, ascension to power, before.
How do you use "until" in a sentence?
Class doesn't begin until eight-thirty.
How do you pronounce "until"?
Pronounced /ʌnˈtɪl/.
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.