# until

Pronunciation: say "un-TIL" /ʌnˈtɪl/

## Preposition

1. Up to the time of a particular point or event; after a negative, not before that time ('not until March').
   - Simple: Up to a certain time. After 'not', it means not before that time.
   - _The road is closed until Monday._
   - _She lived in Paris until the war._
3. Up to a certain place ('keep walking until the second set of traffic lights, then turn left').
   - Simple: As far as a certain place, in directions.
   - _Drive until the roundabout and turn right._
   - _Stay on this road until the gas station, then take the next left._

## Conjunction

2. Up to the time that something happens or becomes true; after a negative, not before it happens ('not until the guests arrive').
   - Simple: Up to the time when something happens. After 'not', it means not before it happens.
   - _Wait here until I come back._
   - _He read until his eyes hurt._

## Preposition

4. To or towards, in space. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: An old use meaning 'to' or 'towards'.

## Other meanings

- (preposition) Used without an object in notices, from a start time to an open end, often until the food or goods run out.

## Origin

From Middle English "vntil" (also "until," "untill," "ontil"), perhaps a northern variant of Middle English "unto." By surface analysis it breaks down into "un-" (against, toward, up to) plus "till."

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/until (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).