The meaning of HITHERTO is up to this or that time. How to use hitherto in a sentence.

Novelists and dramatists put hitherto taboo dialogue into the mouths of characters whose real counterparts would be unlikely to use it.

Jan 20, 2026 · Adjective hitherto (not comparable) (archaic) Existing or occurring before now; former, preceding, previous. Synonyms: see Thesaurus: former

You use hitherto to indicate that something was true up until the time you are talking about, although it may no longer be the case.

Definition of hitherto adverb in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

Define hitherto. hitherto synonyms, hitherto pronunciation, hitherto translation, English dictionary definition of hitherto. adv. Until this time: The weather, which had hitherto been sunny and mild, …

HITHERTO definition: up to this time; until now. See examples of hitherto used in a sentence.

There are five meanings listed in OED's entry for the word hitherto, one of which is labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025 hith•er•to (hiᵺ′ ər to̅o̅′), adv. up to this time; until now: a fact hitherto unknown. to here.

Use the adverb hitherto when you're describing a state or circumstance that existed up until now. If you find a hitherto undiscovered hidden tunnel in your cellar, you're the first to discover it.