What does “until” mean?
- 1
prepositionup to a certain time
The store is open until 9 p.m.
- 2
conjunctionup to the time when something happens
Wait here until I come back.
Until at a glance
- Part of speech
- preposition & conjunction
- CEFR level
- A2 (elementary)
- Pronunciation
- /ənˈtɪl/ · uhn-TIL
How to use “until” correctly
Use present tense, not “will”, after “until”: “Wait until he arrives”, not “until he will arrive”.
Common phrases with “until”
- until now
- not until
- until then
Synonyms, opposites and related words
Synonyms (similar meaning)
- till
- up to
“until” is on these word lists
Learn these words next
- during prepositionA2all through a period of time, or at some point within it
- since prepositionA2from a time in the past until now
- after prepositionA1later than something; following in time or order
- already adverbA2before now, or earlier than expected
- before prepositionA1earlier than
- century nounA2a period of one hundred years
- continue verbA2to keep doing something or keep happening without stopping
- event nounA2something that happens, especially something important or unusual