Word
hitherto
Phoneticshith·er·to, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈhɪˌðɝˈtu/
UK/hˈɪðətˌuː/
Adverb of time
Definition
adv. until now or until the time you are talking about.
adv. up to this time; until now or until the point in time mentioned. Often used in academic or legal contexts to describe a change in status.
Examples
“The museum is showing hitherto unseen paintings by the artist.”
“The discovery provided evidence for a hitherto unknown civilization that lived in the valley centuries ago.”
“The new legislation aims to protect rights that were hitherto ignored by the legal system, marking a significant shift in national policy.”
Examples
simple
“The museum is showing hitherto unseen paintings by the artist.”
contextual
“The discovery provided evidence for a hitherto unknown civilization that lived in the valley centuries ago.”
complex
“The new legislation aims to protect rights that were hitherto ignored by the legal system, marking a significant shift in national policy.”
Usage
Typically placed immediately before the adjective or noun phrase it modifies, or at the beginning of a clause.
Real-World Examples
“A closing monologue about attention to detail strives for a significance the show has not hitherto possessed.” “On came Diarra and Isidor for the hitherto largely ineffective Nilson Angulo and Brian Brobbey.” Etymology
The adverb is derived from Middle English hiderto (“to the present time, until now; up to this point”), from hider (“in this direction, to or toward this place; up to the present time, until now”) (from Old English hider (“to here, hither”)) + to (“in the direction of, toward; etc.”). By surface analysis, hither + to. The adjective is derived from the adverb.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word family
ADVERB
Related words
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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- Formal, Academic
QR code
englishreference.com/q/hitherto