1
: up to (a particular time)
—used to indicate the time when a particular situation, activity, or period ends
I stayed until morning.
He was in prison from 1850 until the 1854 revolt.
She will be out of the office until next week.
The coupon is good until the end of March.
Until then, I had never known happiness.
I will keep working up until dinnertime.
2
—used to indicate the time when something will happen, become true, etc.
We don't open until ten.
The car won't be ready until tomorrow.
: up to the time or point that
We played until it got dark.
Wait until I call.
Keep going until I tell you to stop.
I ran until I was breathless.
Stay here until the danger has passed.
Stir the dough until it forms a ball.
You cannot go outside until you finish your homework. = Not until you finish your homework can you go outside. [=when you finish your homework you can go outside, but not before then]
Cite this Entry
“Until.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/until. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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