1 until | Definition of until
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until

preposition
unĀ·​til | \ ən-Ėˆtil How to pronounce until (audio) , -Ėˆtel; ĖˆÉ™n-ĖŒtil, -ĖŒtel, -tįµŠl\

Definition of until

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1 chiefly Scotland : to
2 —used as a function word to indicate continuance (as of an action or condition) to a specified time stayed until morning
3 : before sense 2 not available until tomorrow we don't open until ten

until

conjunction

Definition of until (Entry 2 of 2)

: up to the time that : up to such time as play continued until it got dark never able to relax until he took up fishing ran until she was breathless
till, 'til, or 'till? More Example Sentences Learn More about until

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till, 'til, or 'till?

People often ask which is the correct synonym of until: till, ā€™til, or ā€™till?

Many assume that till is an abbreviated form of until. Actually, it is a distinctive word that existed in English at least a century before until, both as a preposition meaning ā€œtoā€ and a conjunction meaning ā€œuntil.ā€ It has seen continuous use in English since the 12th century and is a perfectly legitimate synonym of until.

ā€™Til and ā€™till are much newer words, having appeared in the language only in the 19th and 20th centuries, respectively. Both are variant spellings, either of until or of till. Writers of usage guides have roundly condemned ā€™till as a barbarism (apparently because it seems to have added a superfluous l to the end of until). ā€™Til, for its part, has been deemed inappropriate in formal writing.

To sum up: until and till can be used freely and interchangeably, but you will probably want to avoid ā€™till and use ā€™til advisedly.

Examples of until in a Sentence

Conjunction

 We played until it got dark. Keep going until I tell you to stop. I ran until I was breathless. Stay here until the danger has passed. Stir the dough until it forms a ball.
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First Known Use of until

Preposition

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Conjunction

14th century, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for until

Preposition

Middle English, from un- (probably from Old Norse *und up to; akin to Old Norse unz up to, until, Old High German unt, Old English ende end) + til, till till

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More Definitions for until

until

preposition
How to pronounce until (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of until

 (Entry 1 of 2)

: up to (a particular time)
—used to indicate the time when something will happen, become true, etc.

until

conjunction

English Language Learners Definition of until (Entry 2 of 2)

: up to the time or point that

See the full definition for until in the English Language Learners Dictionary

until

preposition
unĀ·​til | \ ən-Ėˆtil How to pronounce until (audio) \

Kids Definition of until

 (Entry 1 of 2)

: up to the time of I worked until noon.

until

conjunction

Kids Definition of until (Entry 2 of 2)

: up to the time that Wait until I call.

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More from Merriam-Webster on until

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with until

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for until

Spanish Central: Translation of until

Nglish: Translation of until for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of until for Arabic Speakers

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