heretofore

adverb

here·​to·​fore ˈhir-tə-ˌfȯr 

ˌhir-tə-ˈfȯr

: up to this time : hitherto

heretofore unimaginable possibilities

I tell you now what we have heretofore kept secret from you

—A. C. Whitehead

Synonyms

• hitherto
• theretofore
• yet

Examples of heretofore in a Sentence

Heretofore her writing has never displayed such depth of feeling.

This technology has created heretofore unimaginable possibilities.

Recent Examples on the Web

The season’s many additions include the actors playing Dream’s heretofore unseen siblings Delirium (who will be played by Hanna‘s Esme Creed-Miles), Destiny (Primary Colors‘ Adrian Lester) and The Prodigal (Revenge‘s Barry Sloane). —Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 9 Dec. 2024

Fredric Jameson represents something like the lapping at the shoreline, which doesn’t go away and never ceases to turn up interesting things: shells, coins, and specimens of marine life heretofore unseen. —Mark Greif, Harper's Magazine, 26 July 2024

Everything in his heretofore turbulent life has fallen into place. —Lisa Henricksson, airmail.news, 11 Jan. 2025

It is agreed that Creditors on either Side shall meet with no lawful Impediment to the Recovery of the full Value in Sterling Money of all bona fide Debts heretofore contracted. —Liz Tracey, JSTOR Daily, 14 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

heretofore

adverb

here·​to·​fore ˈhi(ə)rt-ə-ˌfō(ə)r 

-ˌfȯ(ə)r;

ˌhirt-ə-ˈfō(ə)r,

-ˈfȯ(ə)r

: up to this time