until
∞
1.0
- subordinating conjunction
- /ənˈtɪl/
- This story won't go away until he goes away.
- wait until
- continue until
- until it reaches
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Watch on YouTubeThey called him that right up until he died.
- They called him that right up until he died.
- And you just do this until it begins to hurt.
- At least, that is, until it is disrupted.
- challenge it, stretch it, scream it until it's gone.
- When in doubt, just keep doing it until it's better.
- He said you're not a man until your father dies.
- And I didn't realize that until I changed the program.
- I cried all the way to the JCC until Lucy told me to stop.
- Until either I got in shape or until summer ended.
- Or is this just layer after layer until you know, you expire?
- How long, I don't know, until we're done what.
Examples
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You should wait here until your parents arrive.
-
We're not gonna leave here until you tell us what happened at the plant.
-
Where could I move to until I found the place?
-
When in doubt, just keep doing it until it's better.
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I tracked her down and kept her talking until she told me what happened.
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Amy refused to practice her band music until she knew how her part sounded.
Academic text (2011) -
So you'll be covered until the new policies are issued.
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Miraculously, Robert managed to hold on until the train reached its next stop.
Academic text (2011) -
He's staying here with me until the doctor and the police arrive.
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At most colleges and universities, students work alone until they embark on the senior design sequence.
Academic text (2011)
Synonyms
Antonyms
Idioms
- Informal
2
9.5
For a very long time, often to say something will never happen
- Informal
1
8.6
Continue doing something with energy until you can no longer
- Informal
1
6.0
To delay action or decisions until things become clearer
- Informal
To keep supporting something until the very end, no matter how long it takes
How Formal
Surface Forms
Etymology
Until comes from old English parts unto ('to') and till ('up to a time'), so it marks when something stops or changes. A helpful way to remember it is 'up to that moment', which is why we use until to show when something ends.