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 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
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
-
Their closer coughed up yet another game, as Tanner Scott left a two-strike, two-out fastball over the heart of the plate that Orioles rookie Samuel Basallo crushed into the night sky to end it.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Dyson hasn’t announced a price for the Spot+Scrub yet, but it’s expected to launch in the US in 2026.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
6 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
This is particularly newsworthy in part because Powell has been consistent heretofore in giving emphasis to the priority need to restrain inflation.—
Arthur I. Cyr,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Aug. 2025
-
The 49ers have been using Lucas, heretofore a nickel cornerback, on the outside this week and Robinson, mainly an outside cornerback, on the inside.—
Matt Barrows,
New York Times,
22 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Theretofore.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/theretofore. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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