Till Meaning
/tɪl/Definition, CEFR level A1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
prepUntil; to, up to; as late as (a given time).
prepBefore (a certain time or event).
Sentence Examples
If you think education is expensive, wait till you see what ignorance costs you.
You must be here till five.
There was music and dancing till two in the morning.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The farmer used his new tractor to ____ the dry soil before planting seeds.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The shop is open from nine o'clock ____ six o'clock every day except for Sunday when it is closed today.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English til, from Northern Old English til, from or akin to Old Norse til (“to, till”); both from Proto-Germanic *til (“to, toward”), from Proto-Germanic *tilą (“planned point in time”). Not a contraction of until; rather, until comes from till with the prefix un- (“against; toward; up to”) also found in unto. Cognate with Old Frisian til (“to, till”), Danish til (“to”), Swedish till (“to, till”), Icelandic til (“to, till”). Also related to Old English til (“good”), German Ziel (“goal”), Gothic 𐍄𐌹𐌻 (til, “something fitting or suitable”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Similar sentiments will recur to everyone familiar with his writings all through them till the very end."
— 1854, Prof. John Wilson, The Genius and Character of Burns, page 194:
"The line was authorised on June 23, 1864, but not opened till July 11, 1881."
— 1946 May and June, G. A. Sekon, “L.B.S.C.R. West Coast Section—3”, in Railway Magazine, page 148:
"While the PA has not always seen eye-to-eye with US foreign policy, its survival remained, till recently, a top American priority."
— 2019 March 14, Ramzy Baroud, “Chasing mirages: What are Palestinians doing to combat ‘Deal of the Century’?”, in Ma'an News, archived from the original on 30 Mar 2019:
"If you thought Wytrzyszczka was a mouthful, wait till you try saying Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu."
— 2024 December 4, “This place in NZ has such a long name that most people can't pronounce it”, in Times of India, archived from the original on 04 Dec 2024:
"Is that the town-clock striking? / I think that it is to-night / My fever will reach its crisis, / There are long hours yet till light."
— 1880, A. T. Fullerton, “Fever”, in Littell's Living Age, volume 147, page 578:
Explore More A1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The farmer used his new tractor to ____ the dry soil before planting seeds.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The shop is open from nine o'clock ____ six o'clock every day except for Sunday when it is closed today.