as in yet
up to this or that time
theretofore the couple hadn't given much thought to marriage, but the unplanned pregnancy changed everything
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Recent Examples of theretofore
The spectacle was sufficiently embarrassing that the Prime Minister decreed within a week that executions would theretofore be hidden behind prison doors.
—
Lauren Collins,
New Yorker,
1 Apr. 2026
The reaction to the release of All Quiet on the Western Front in Germany marked an early Hollywood encounter with the pathological race hatred of a theretofore unknown political party.
—
Thomas Doherty,
The Hollywood Reporter,
13 Sep. 2022
While deal volume in July and August still trends slower, recent years have enjoyed more robust markets during this period than theretofore.
—
Frederick Peters,
Forbes,
5 July 2022
There weren’t many bright colors, but some theretofore unnoticed textural quirks—on clothes, on faces—went wild with deep, scrutinizing, photographic detail.
—
Vinson Cunningham,
The New Yorker,
20 Dec. 2021
My confidence had reached a height theretofore unseen.
—
Shannon Driskill,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2021
Lauren Collins,
New Yorker,
1 Apr. 2026
The reaction to the release of All Quiet on the Western Front in Germany marked an early Hollywood encounter with the pathological race hatred of a theretofore unknown political party.
—
Thomas Doherty,
The Hollywood Reporter,
13 Sep. 2022
While deal volume in July and August still trends slower, recent years have enjoyed more robust markets during this period than theretofore.
—
Frederick Peters,
Forbes,
5 July 2022
There weren’t many bright colors, but some theretofore unnoticed textural quirks—on clothes, on faces—went wild with deep, scrutinizing, photographic detail.
—
Vinson Cunningham,
The New Yorker,
20 Dec. 2021
My confidence had reached a height theretofore unseen.
—
Shannon Driskill,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for theretofore
Adverb
-
Her Spotify discography does not include any full albums as of yet, but does show a six-song EP and three singles released in 2020 through 2023.
-
Better yet, soothing ingredients like chamomile flower water and hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid keep skin feeling comfortable, so your complexion looks fresh—not overly matte.
Adverb
-
Suddenly the Knicks, who hadn’t won the big title in fifty-three years, can turn on some heretofore unseen mode of heroism, and—bang.
-
On the eighth floor, The Sky Room’s floor-to-ceiling windows look out across the South Side, framing city views heretofore unseen.
Cite this Entry
“Theretofore.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/theretofore. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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