until

until

The baby did not stop crying until he was fed.

Definition

  1. Preposition:

    • Up to (a specified time or event): "until" indicates the point in time when an action, state, or condition ceases or changes.
    • Before (a specified time): Used in negative constructions to emphasize that something does not happen earlier than a certain time.

  2. Conjunction:

    • Up to the time that: "until" introduces a clause describing the time or event that marks the end of an ongoing action or state.
Usage Examples

  • Preposition:

    • The store is open until 9 p.m. (The store closes at 9 p.m.)
    • I will wait until Friday. (I will wait through the days up to and including Friday.)

  • Conjunction:

    • She did not leave until the meeting ended. (She stayed for the entire meeting and left only after it finished.)
    • He worked until he was exhausted. (He worked continuously, stopping only when exhaustion set in.)
Advanced Usage

  • "until further notice": used to indicate that a situation will continue indefinitely until a future announcement.

    • The office will be closed until further notice. (The closure will last until an official update is given.)

  • "not until": emphasizes a delayed action or condition.

    • It was not until midnight that the noise stopped. (The noise stopped only at midnight, not before.)

  • "until the cows come home": an informal idiom meaning for a very long time or indefinitely.

    • You can argue until the cows come home, but I won't change my mind. (You can argue for an extremely long time without effect.)
Variants and Related Words

  • 'til (prep/conj, informal): a shortened form of "until".

    • I'll be here 'til noon. (I will stay here until noon.)

  • Till (prep/conj): a synonym of "until", used in both formal and informal contexts.

    • The event runs from Monday till Friday. (The event lasts from Monday to Friday.)
Synonyms

  • Up to: indicating a limit in time.

    • The offer is valid up to the end of the month. (Valid until the end of the month.)

  • Before: used in negative clauses to indicate timing.

    • I cannot leave before the project is finished. (I cannot leave until the project is finished.)
Related Idioms

  • Until the bitter end: continuing to the very end, often in a difficult situation.

    • They fought until the bitter end of the war. (They fought until the war's conclusion, despite hardships.)

  • Until one's dying day: for the rest of one's life.

    • She will remember that kindness until her dying day. (She will remember it forever.)