not until
idiom
: not before
Not until you finish your homework can you go outside.
When you finish your homework you can go outside, but not until then.
Examples of not until in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
And not until Teoscar Hernández found the left-center-field gap in the 11th, scoring Ohtani (who went 0 for 5) from second base and Freeman (0 for 2 with two walks) from first, did either team manage to get a runner across the plate.
—
Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2024
That time did come, but not until a few years later.
—Bill Kopp, SPIN, 6 June 2024
Passengers were eventually given a flight to London, but not until 9:30 a.m. the following morning, Vanessa told Metro.
—Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 3 June 2024
By Chantelle Lee May 31, 2024 3:45 PM EDT
While the summer solstice is not until June 20, many scientists consider the start of summer to be much sooner.
—Chantelle Lee, TIME, 31 May 2024
At least not until Saturday in Clovis, when first Madison High School senior Amirah Shaheed broke the tape in the girls’ race, clocking a time of 23.53 seconds.
—Steve Brand, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 May 2024
And not until 1974 could women get credit cards on their own, in their own name.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2024
The offseason program remains voluntary so Aiyuk is not facing any fine for being away, at least not until the mandatory minicamp June 4-6 and then training camp in late July.
—Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 21 May 2024
The men had hoped Franks’ body would never be found, or at least not until decomposition had set in.
—Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 May 2024
Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2024
That time did come, but not until a few years later.
—Bill Kopp, SPIN, 6 June 2024
Passengers were eventually given a flight to London, but not until 9:30 a.m. the following morning, Vanessa told Metro.
—Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 3 June 2024
By Chantelle Lee May 31, 2024 3:45 PM EDT
While the summer solstice is not until June 20, many scientists consider the start of summer to be much sooner.
—Chantelle Lee, TIME, 31 May 2024
At least not until Saturday in Clovis, when first Madison High School senior Amirah Shaheed broke the tape in the girls’ race, clocking a time of 23.53 seconds.
—Steve Brand, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 May 2024
And not until 1974 could women get credit cards on their own, in their own name.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2024
The offseason program remains voluntary so Aiyuk is not facing any fine for being away, at least not until the mandatory minicamp June 4-6 and then training camp in late July.
—Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 21 May 2024
The men had hoped Franks’ body would never be found, or at least not until decomposition had set in.
—Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 May 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'not until.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near not until
Cite this Entry
“Not until.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/not%20until. Accessed 12 Jun. 2024.
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