A1 1K

Until

🇬🇧 UK /["/ənˈtɪl/"]/ 🇺🇸 US /["/ənˈtɪl/"]/

Meaning of Until

up to the point in time or the event mentioned

In simple words: up to a particular point in time

Until in a sentence

• Let's wait until the rain stops.
• Until she spoke I hadn't realized she wasn't English.
• You're not going out until you've finished this.
• Until now I have always lived alone.
• They moved here in 2009. Until then they'd always been in the London area.
• He continued working **up until** his death.
• The street is full of traffic **from morning till night**.
• You can stay on the bus until London *(= until you reach London)*.

How to use Until

Use 'until' to indicate a time limit for an action. It's often used in both spoken and written English, but avoid in very formal contexts like academic writing.

Grammar pattern

until + time/event

Memory hint

Think of 'un-till' as not starting until a certain time.

Related words

Collocations with Until

• wait until
• stay until
• not until

Synonyms for Until

• till
• up to
• before

Opposites of Until

• after
• since

Common mistakes with Until

• Using 'until' when 'before' is correct
• Confusing 'until' with 'to' in expressions of time
• Using 'until' with the wrong verb forms

Frequently asked questions about Until

What does Until mean?

up to a particular point in time

What is the definition of Until?

up to the point in time or the event mentioned

How do you use Until in a sentence?

Let's wait until the rain stops.

Can you give another example of Until?

Until she spoke I hadn't realized she wasn't English.

What are synonyms for Until?

Common alternatives include till, up to, before.

What is the opposite of Until?

Opposite meanings include after, since.

What words go with Until?

It commonly pairs with wait until, stay until, not until.

What are common mistakes when using Until?

Using 'until' when 'before' is correct Confusing 'until' with 'to' in expressions of time Using 'until' with the wrong verb forms

How do you pronounce Until?

US: /["/ənˈtɪl/"]/, UK: /["/ənˈtɪl/"]/. Listen to the audio above to hear native pronunciation.

When should I use Until?

Use 'until' to indicate a time limit for an action. It's often used in both spoken and written English, but avoid in very formal contexts like academic writing.

What CEFR level is Until?

"Until" is at A1 level on the CEFR scale.