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not until

idiom

Definition of not until

: 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.

Word by Word Definitions

until play

  1. : to

  2. used as a function word to indicate continuance (as of an action or condition) to a specified time

  3. : before

  1. : up to the time that : up to such time as

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