un‧til S1 W1 /ʌnˈtɪl, ən-/
preposition, conjunction[
Date: 1100-1200;
Origin: un- 'unto, until' + till]
1. if something happens until a particular time, it continues and then stops at that time:
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.GRAMMARIn a clause beginning with
until that refers to the future, use the present tense or present perfect, not 'will':
I will not buy the tickets until I hear from you. Add the sugar and stir until it has dissolved.until now, so farUntil now is usually used to say that a situation has just ended or changed:
Until now I had no one to tell things to (=I now have someone to tell things to).Do not use
until now when the situation has not changed. Use
so far:
So far no one has claimed responsibility for the bombs. [TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲
untilpreposition1. 
BAD: The new tunnel means that we can drive until London.
GOOD: The new tunnel means that we can drive (all the way) to London.
BAD: The magazine covers everything from politics until what's happening in Hollywood.
GOOD: The magazine covers everything from politics to what's happening in Hollywood.
Usage Note:Until and
till are usually used in connection with time: 'The shops are open until six o'clock on weekdays.'
When you are talking about distance, area, or scope, use
to or
as far as : 'Do you know which bus goes to Marble Arch?' 'I got a lift as far as Sheffield and then I took a train.' 'You can get anything from a sandwich to a three-course meal.'
2. BAD: Until now we have received over sixty applications.
GOOD: So far we have received over sixty applications.
BAD: I've only been here for two months until now.
GOOD: I've only been here for two months so far.
Usage Note: When you are talking about a situation that is (probably) going to continue into the future, use
so far or (in formal styles)
to date : 'So far this week it's hardly stopped raining.' 'To date there have been ten attempts on the President's life.'
3. BAD: Her husband is alive until now.
GOOD: Her husband is still alive.
DUBIOUS: Until now their customs and beliefs remain unchanged.
GOOD: To this day their customs and beliefs remain unchanged.
Usage Note:When you want to say that something is the same now as it was in the past, use
still : 'I've read the first chapter three times and I still don't understand it.' 'Despite her doctor's advice, she still eats anything she likes.'
To give emphasis to this meaning, especially at the beginning of a sentence, use
to this day ... (still) : 'To this day I still don't understand why they got divorced.'
4. BAD: The school caters for children until the age of eleven.
GOOD: The school caters for children up to the age of eleven.
Usage Note:up to a particular age (NOT
until ): 'The competition is open to all children up to the age of eleven.'
5. BAD: I will have finished this book until tomorrow.
GOOD: I will have finished this book by tomorrow.
BAD: Could you let us know your decision until the end of October.
GOOD: Could you let us know your decision by the end of October.
Usage Note:Until is used for an action or state continuing up to a certain time: 'The shops are open until five thirty.' 'I'll wait here until you get back.'
By is used for an action which happens before or no later than a certain time: 'I have to submit my dissertation by the end of next year.'
6. BAD: The letter hasn't arrived until now.
GOOD: The letter hasn't arrived yet.
Usage Note:When you mean that up to the moment of speaking something has not happened, use
yet : 'Her plane hasn't landed yet.'
7. BAD: I'll wait here until you will return.
GOOD: I'll wait here until you return.
8. BAD: It's the best hotel that I've stayed at until now.
GOOD: It's the best hotel that I've ever stayed at.
Usage Note:When you mean 'at any time (in the past) up to the moment of speaking', use
ever : 'This is the worst earthquake that the country has ever experienced.'
[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲