not until

idiom

: not before

Not until you finish your homework can you go outside.

When you finish your homework you can go outside, but not until then.

Examples of not until in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web At least not until Saturday in Clovis, when first Madison High School senior Amirah Shaheed broke the tape in the girls’ race, clocking a time of 23.53 seconds. —

Steve Brand, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 May 2024 And not until 1974 could women get credit cards on their own, in their own name. —

Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2024 The offseason program remains voluntary so Aiyuk is not facing any fine for being away, at least not until the mandatory minicamp June 4-6 and then training camp in late July. —

Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 21 May 2024 The men had hoped Franks’ body would never be found, or at least not until decomposition had set in. —

Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 May 2024 Eventually the weekly would fold, but not until Pryor had secured a seat in the state Legislature. —

Frank E. Lockwood, arkansasonline.com, 20 Apr. 2024 The announcement fulfills one of Biden’s key campaign promises – though not until the tail end of his first term. —

Zachary Schermele, USA TODAY, 19 Apr. 2024 Bostic now expects just one interest rate cut in 2024, and not until the end of the year. —

Will Daniel, Fortune, 16 Apr. 2024 The average first 100-degree day is not until May 2nd. —

Abigail Celaya, The Arizona Republic, 11 Apr. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'not until.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.