ENGLISH
REFERENCE

until

prep.
A1 Beginner Oxford US //ənˈtɪɫ// UK //ʌntˈɪl// un·til Archaic General-service

prep. up to a specific time. You use it to show when an action or situation stops.

prep. up to the point in time or the event mentioned. Functions as a temporal marker indicating the terminal point of a continuous action or state.


SIMPLE

The shop is open until nine tonight.

CONTEXTUAL

We waited at the station until the last train arrived at midnight.

COMPLEX

The researchers continued their observations until the battery on the remote sensor finally failed, providing them with three months of uninterrupted data.

Origin

From Middle English vntil, until, untill, ontil, ontill, perhaps representing a northern variant of Middle English unto (see Modern English unto). By surface analysis, un- (“against; toward; up to”) + till.

Usage

Often shortened to 'till' in informal speech; 'until' is preferred in formal writing and at the start of a sentence.

Pitfall

I will stay here until you will comeI will stay here until you comeIn clauses referring to the future after 'until', use the present simple tense rather than 'will'.

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