untilun‧til /ʌnˈtɪl, ən-/ ●●● S1 W1 preposition, conjunction 
The ticket is valid until March. He waited until she had finished speaking. Until recently, Anna worked as a teacher in Japan. Up until last year, they didn’t even own a car.2 not until used to emphasize that something does not happen before a certain point in time or before something else has happened: ‘Can I go out and play now?’ ‘Not until you’ve done your homework.’ It was not until 1972 that the war finally came to an end.RegisterIn everyday English, people often say till rather than until:· I’ll wait till you get back.GRAMMAR: Choosing the right tense• You use the simple present tense with until: · I will wait until I hear from you.• Don’t use ‘will’ in the clause after until. ✗Don’t say: I will wait until I will hear from you.• You can also use the present perfect tense with until: · I will wait until I have heard from you.· Stir until the sugar has dissolved. ✗Don’t say: until I will have heard from you | until the sugar will have dissolved• You can also use the past perfect tense with until: · I waited until the train had left the station.Grammar guide ‒ VERBSUSAGE: Until now, so far• You usually use until now when a situation has just ended or changed: · I have never thought about it until now (=but now I have thought about it).• You use so far when a situation has not changed: · We don't have any news about him so far. ✗Don’t say: We don't have any news about him until now.
WORD ORIGINuntil
Origin:
1100-1200 un- ‘unto, until’ + tillLongman Language Activatorwhen things are spread around in a messy way
also till especially spoken if something happens until or till a time or event, it continues and then stops at that time or event. Till is only used in informal speech and writing: · My father worked as a teacher until 1989.· I'll be at home until 5:30, if you want to phone me.· Vicky polished the car until it shone.· David continued living at home until he was 26.· The library's only open till five on Saturdays.· Just wait till I've finished my coffee. Then we can go.
if something happens up until or up to a particular time, date etc, it happens continuously before that time but no longer happens after that time: · Up until the nineteenth century wood was commonly used for buildings.· She continued to write poetry, up to the day she died.· Things had been going very well up until then.right up until/to a time (=just before): · Right up until the last minute she had hoped that Peter would change his mind.
use this to say that something starts happening at one time and continues until another time: · We worked from seven in the morning until late at night.· Max edited the paper from 1950 until he retired in 1989.from May to September/from 9am to 5pm etc: · The hotel is only open during the main tourist season, from March to October.· Eisenhower was President from 1952 to 1956.
: May through September/Monday through Friday etc American starting in May and continuing until the end of September, starting on Monday and continuing until the end of Friday, etc: · The store is open Monday through Saturday.· Prices are generally lowest from January through March and highest June through August.
written starting on Monday and continuing until the end of Friday, starting at 6 o'clock and continuing until 8 o'clock - used on signs and notices: · Visit the exhibition of modern art, open every day, 9:30-6:00.· A special fishing licence is required for the season (May-September).
when something will always happen or always continue · I'll always remember the day we first met.· She said she would always love him.
if something lasts or continues forever , it remains or continues for all future time: · I'd like to stay here forever.· The memory of that awful day is forever etched in my mind.
a word meaning forever, for a very long time, or for the rest of your life - use this especially to talk about changes that you expect to last forever: · The accident has left Hanson permanently disabled.· Thirteen students were permanently expelled from the school.
for all future time - used especially by children or in children's stories when someone feels extremely happy: · It was a beautiful day, and Ellie wanted it to go on for ever and ever.
if someone leaves, comes back etc for good , they leave or come back permanently: · The injury may keep him out of football for good.· I'd like to stay in Colorado for good.
spoken informal if you have something for keeps , you have it forever: · He's given it to me for keeps.
formal forever, used especially when saying that something will last or be remembered forever because it is very good, special etc: · The actions of those who died in the Great War will be remembered for all time.
for the rest of your life: · There's no such thing as a job for life any more.scarred/maimed/crippled/blind etc for life: · The abuse left him scarred for life.
for the rest of your life - used especially in stories, plays etc: · You will regret this until your dying day.· I will remember your kindness to my dying day.
until now until now - use this when you are talking about a situation that will continue or develop after this time: · There haven't been any problems so far.· This is the hottest day we've had so far this summer.· We've raised twelve thousand dollars so far, and we expect to reach our goal by the end of next week.
use this to say that a situation which started in the past continues to exist now, especially when this is surprising: · He's been studying French for five years, and still can't speak the language.· Are you still going out with that guy you met at Heather's party?
use this in questions or negative statements, to talk or ask about things that you expected to happen before now: · Has the new washing machine arrived yet?· I haven't been to the new exhibit yet, but I hope to this weekend.· "Have you finished your homework?" "Not yet."
use this about a situation which has existed until now, but which has started to change or will change in the future: · He hasn't gotten much time off from work up to now, so he's really looking forward to his vacation.· Until now, there has been no effective treatment for this disease.
from a time in the past until modern times: · These two companies have dominated the industry from the end of World War II until the present day.· The beauty of Yosemite has inspired artists from Bierstadt's time right up to the present day.
how long something continues use this to ask about or talk about how many minutes, hours, days, or years something continues for: · How long have you been waiting?· I don't know how long the repair will last, but it should get you home.· How long are you going to be in the bathroom?· How long have you two known each other?· So how long did you live on Long Island?
use this to say how long something continues: for an hour/two days/a long time etc: · "How long did you live in Spain?" "Oh, for about three years."· We seem to have been waiting for ages.· We talked for a while.· Omar's been learning English for two years now.· I only worked there for three months.
all the time from a time or event in the past until now: · I've had this car since 1992.· I've been smoking since I was 14.· Graham's become a lot more confident since he finished his training.· I saw her this morning, but I haven't seen her since.ever since: · Jack has had a fascination with cars ever since he was four.· They bought the caravan last summer, and they've had trouble with it ever since.
also till especially spoken if something happens until or till a time or event, it continues and then stops at that time or event: · David worked as a teacher until 1989.· I'll be at home until 5:30 if you want to phone me.· She polished the car until it shone.· I didn't learn to drive until I was 31.· The library's only open till five on Saturdays.· Just wait till I've finished my coffee.
also from ... till ... especially spoken use this to say that something starts happening at one time or event and continues until another time or event: · I have a class Monday from five o'clock till eight o'clock at night.· I lived there from the age of 14 until I went to college.· Max edited the paper from 1950 until he retired in 1989.
use this to say that something starts at a particular time and stops at a later time: from May to September/from 9 am to 5 pm etc: · Eisenhower was President from 1952 to 1956.· I'm going to use the computer lab from eight to ten Friday morning.· My plan is to train seriously from January to July.
American: May through September/Monday through Friday etc starting in May and continuing until September, starting on Monday and continuing until and including Friday, etc: · The store is open Monday through Saturday.· "When will you be away?" "The 17th through the 19th."
written starting on Monday and continuing until and including Friday, starting at 6 o'clock and continuing until 8 o'clock etc - used on signs and notices: · Visit the exhibition of modern art, open every day, 9:30-6:00.· A special fishing licence is required for the season (May-September).
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Up until last year, they didn’t even own a car.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES The batteries should last for 20 hours playing time. We only had $50 to last us the rest of the month. If you leave your preparation until the last minute, you’ll reduce your chances of passing. I left the best bit until last. The match had to be postponed until next week. Jerry lived in Cairo until quite recently.
Up until last year, they didn’t even own a car. The batteries should last for 20 hours playing time. We only had $50 to last us the rest of the month. If you leave your preparation until the last minute, you’ll reduce your chances of passing. I left the best bit until last. (=from now until you are told something else)· On the door was a sign: ‘Library closed until further notice’.
The match had to be postponed until next week. Jerry lived in Cairo until quite recently.PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► you haven’t lived (if/until ...)► it’s not over until the fat lady sings► 3/5/8 etc sleeps until/till something
1if something happens until a particular time, it continues and then stops at that time: - Actually it was not until 4 June that the submarines arrived on station.
- But, it's not until the sun sets, that the Mar Estang really comes into its own.
- He meant to, but addresses didn't seem important - well, not until it was too late.
- I will accept your tequila, but not until after you have admitted your wrongs.
- It was not until the 1880s that there were consistent experimental findings to support localization.
- It was not until they had just left the Church that Joan discovered they were going for two weeks to Tenerife.
- Watkins died in 1935 and it was not until the 1960s that interest in leys again fared.
- Badgers usually only venture out after dark, so they can be difficult to spot.
- I have often come out here alone after dark to breathe it in.
- If McQuaid had a big order to fill he mightn't come till after dark.
- Not many people chose to take a ride on such a bumpy, gloomy road after dark in the month of January.
- Start in the morning and not go home until dark.
- That evening I was all right - Joanna would be afloat in the late afternoon, and I could get away before dark.
- We had been too nervous to arrive after dark.
- We worked from early morning until dark.
- You could wait till Doomsday and he'd never show up.
- Of course, if you choose a male tree you can wait until Doomsday and still never see a berry.
- You can watch television news programs from now until doomsday and never come across any statement about Manny Freebus.
- Arlen Specter until he dropped out of the Republican race.
- It harasses other gulls until they drop their hard-won food and then swoops down to catch it - often in mid-air.
- Or they can board one of the famous San Francisco trams to shop till they drop at Ghiradelli Square.
- Putting his hand on my head, he looked at his sheep until they dropped their eyes.
- She only wanted him to go on dancing till he dropped.
- They work until they drop, twenty, thirty hours at a time.
- Try having your last meal no later than 5 p. m. Working till I drop will help me sleep.
- You shop until you drop and then what?
- All three schools were closed until further notice.
- The museum will be closed until further notice.
- A curfew was imposed until further notice in both Nouadhibou and Nouakchott.
- All its teams have been banned from international competitions until further notice.
- Althorp is closed to the public until further notice.
- An army spokesman said the curfew would continue until further notice, but army radio said it would be lifted on Sunday.
- Despite the plans to introduce a multiparty system, government sources confirmed that new parties would remain banned until further notice.
- Fast lanes closed on each carriageway until further notice with two lanes open for traffic.
- His coach told him a few days ago that he would come off the bench until further notice.
- Just keep sending the reports, he says, until further notice.
- A curfew was imposed until further notice in both Nouadhibou and Nouakchott.
- All its teams have been banned from international competitions until further notice.
- Althorp is closed to the public until further notice.
- An army spokesman said the curfew would continue until further notice, but army radio said it would be lifted on Sunday.
- Despite the plans to introduce a multiparty system, government sources confirmed that new parties would remain banned until further notice.
- Fast lanes closed on each carriageway until further notice with two lanes open for traffic.
- His coach told him a few days ago that he would come off the bench until further notice.
- Just keep sending the reports, he says, until further notice.
- But I will not rest until I ensure that this never happens again to other young people.
- He will not rest until he has undone you altogether.
- Yes, sir, the vicious Canuck will not rest until the Republic is lying in its own blood and gore!
- But we have to wait until then.
- Don't wait until it has been completed.
- He would wait until evening and the solitude of the rectory, and the peace of his newly dug garden.
- I wait till she has finished and gone upstairs.
- I reactivated the potentially offending pieces of software, one by one, waiting until the problem reappeared.
- It is not necessary to wait until the data are completely processed or analyzed before the report writing phase can begin.
- The entertainment behemoth has said it would wait until shareholders in both companies approve the acquisition at separate meetings Thursday.
- They were asked to wait until Kitty was eighteen and they agreed.
The ticket is valid until March. He waited until she had finished speaking. Until recently, Anna worked as a teacher in Japan. Up until last year, they didn’t even own a car.2 not until used to emphasize that something does not happen before a certain point in time or before something else has happened: ‘Can I go out and play now?’ ‘Not until you’ve done your homework.’ It was not until 1972 that the war finally came to an end.RegisterIn everyday English, people often say till rather than until:· I’ll wait till you get back.GRAMMAR: Choosing the right tense• You use the simple present tense with until: · I will wait until I hear from you.• Don’t use ‘will’ in the clause after until. ✗Don’t say: I will wait until I will hear from you.• You can also use the present perfect tense with until: · I will wait until I have heard from you.· Stir until the sugar has dissolved. ✗Don’t say: until I will have heard from you | until the sugar will have dissolved• You can also use the past perfect tense with until: · I waited until the train had left the station.Grammar guide ‒ VERBSUSAGE: Until now, so far• You usually use until now when a situation has just ended or changed: · I have never thought about it until now (=but now I have thought about it).• You use so far when a situation has not changed: · We don't have any news about him so far. ✗Don’t say: We don't have any news about him until now.