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
The next election of that body is not until 2028, and only half the members stand for reëlection each time.
—
Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2026
The clinic will get a connectivity alert from the manufacturer if there's a disconnection, but typically not until the patient has been disconnected for 14 to 21 days.
—Stephanie Innes, USA Today, 6 Feb. 2026
The Opening Ceremony for the Milan Olympics is not until Friday, but for seasonal fans wanting to study up on who’s going for gold, hours of documentary programing in skiing, ice dancing and other sports are now available as streamers try to take a piece of the winter sports action from NBC.
—Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 5 Feb. 2026
With the inflation rate at 2-3% Sfeir predicts the Fed will drop short-term interest rates a maximum of two times, and like Vitner, not until the middle of the year.
—Jeff Lazerson, Oc Register, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for not until
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Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2026
The clinic will get a connectivity alert from the manufacturer if there's a disconnection, but typically not until the patient has been disconnected for 14 to 21 days.
—Stephanie Innes, USA Today, 6 Feb. 2026
The Opening Ceremony for the Milan Olympics is not until Friday, but for seasonal fans wanting to study up on who’s going for gold, hours of documentary programing in skiing, ice dancing and other sports are now available as streamers try to take a piece of the winter sports action from NBC.
—Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 5 Feb. 2026
With the inflation rate at 2-3% Sfeir predicts the Fed will drop short-term interest rates a maximum of two times, and like Vitner, not until the middle of the year.
—Jeff Lazerson, Oc Register, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for not until
Cite this Entry
“Not until.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/not%20until. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.
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