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Definition of hitherto

hitherto

/ˌhɪð.ɚˈtuː/
hith · er · to
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hitherto Lexical Profile

hitherto Game Scores & Validity

• adverb

1

Until now or until the particular point in time under discussion; up to this time.

Example

"The expedition uncovered several ancient manuscripts that had been hitherto unknown to modern scholars."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for hitherto
Antonyms
View all antonyms for hitherto

Word Nuance & Usage

"Hitherto" is a formal or literary adverb used primarily in academic, legal, and historical writing; in everyday conversation, phrases like "until now" or "so far" are strongly preferred.

• Rhymes for hitherto

• Nearby Words

hitchhike
hitchhiker
hither
hitherto
hitless
hitmaker
hitman

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in Middle English as a compound of Old English "hider" (meaning "to this place" or "here") and "tō" (meaning "to"), originally signifying spatial reach before shifting to mean "up to this point in time."

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Hitherto. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/hitherto
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