Many assume that till is an abbreviated form of until. In fact, it is a distinct word that existed in English at least a century before until, both as a preposition meaning “to” and as a conjunction meaning “until.”

Until is a preposition and a conjunction. Until is often shortened to till or ’til. Till and ’til are more informal and we don’t usually use them in formal writing.

There is no difference in meaning between until and till. Till is more common in conversation, and is not used in formal writing. If you do something until or till a particular time, you stop doing it at that time. …

You use until with a negative to emphasize the moment in time after which the rest of your statement becomes true, or the condition which would make it true. The traffic laws don't take effect until the …

Definition of until conjunction in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

USAGE: Until now, so far • You usually use until now when a situation has just ended or changed: I have never thought about it until now (=but now I have thought about it).

We use by, not until, when referring to an action that will occur no later than a future time: Will the hot water be turned back on by tomorrow? To refer to a continuing state that stops at a certain time, we …

Jul 17, 2025 · Unpack the word "until" – from its origin meaning "up to" a specific time or limit. Discover comprehensive definitions, real-world examples, and common phrases in this essential glossary …

Until can function as a conjunction or a preposition. Here's how we use it. More examples of until as a conjunction: They played football until it got dark. You're not watching TV until you finish your dinner. …

UNTIL definition: up to the time that or when; till. See examples of until used in a sentence.