heretofore

adverb here·to·fore \ ˈhir-tə-ˌfȯr , ˌhir-tə-ˈfȯr \

Definition of heretofore

:up to this time :hitherto

heretofore unimaginable possibilities

I tell you now what we have heretofore kept secret from you
—A. C. Whitehead

See heretofore defined for English-language learners

See heretofore defined for kids

Examples of heretofore in a Sentence

Heretofore her writing has never displayed such depth of feeling.
This technology has created heretofore unimaginable possibilities.

Recent Examples of heretofore from the Web

A celebration of the heretofore hypothetical territory where rappers, jam bands, and electro producers meet, the North Coast Music Festival has built an identity distinctive enough to stand out amid Chicago’s bulging music-fest ecosystem.

— leor galil, Chicago Reader, "The North Coast Music Festival’s intimate DJ tent contains its collision of pop worlds in microcosm," 24 Aug. 2017
According to former ESPN reporter Brett McMurphy, that game -- set for Dec. 21 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. -- will heretofore be known as the Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl.

— creg stephenson, AL.com, "Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl? That's reportedly the new name of the St. Petersburg Bowl," 18 Aug. 2017
Those advancements had heretofore left the credit-application process unchanged.

— david muller, Car and Driver, "Send a Text, Get a Car Loan? Now There’s an App for That," 18 July 2017
Indeed, the filmmakers have found a way to double their key asset’s contribution by introducing Gru’s heretofore unknown twin brother, Dru, also voiced by Carell.

— jocelyn noveck, Detroit Free Press, "Review: Third time is no charm for ‘Despicable’ franchise," 28 June 2017
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Democrats see Trump's words as an opening to undercut Republican support for the heretofore private bill.

— dan merica, CNN, "Trump calls GOP health care bill 'mean' and Democrats pounce, Republicans worry," 20 June 2017
Instead onetime washouts Logan Morrison, Justin Smoak and Eric Thames are in sniffing distance of their leagues’ dinger crowns, and the heretofore unknown Scott Schebler, of the Cincinnati Reds, has hit 18 homers (against only 17 walks).

— jack dickey, SI.com, "After breaking record, how does Cody Bellinger's season compare to Aaron Judge's?," 20 June 2017
Taking place in the titular Deadfire Archipelago, Pillars of Eternity II has your party exploring this heretofore-unseen part of the world by land and, more importantly, by ship.

— hayden dingman, PCWorld, "Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire shows off old friends and a mysterious new world," 15 June 2017
Twelve Rounds Brewing heretofore will be known as Porchlight Brewing Co., according to a Facebook post on the brewery’s page, which links to a Facebook page under the new name.

— carla meyer, sacbee.com, "Beleaguered Twelve Rounds brewery in East Sacramento gets a new name," 6 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'heretofore.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.