as in yet
up to this or that time
theretofore the couple hadn't given much thought to marriage, but the unplanned pregnancy changed everything
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Recent Examples of theretofore
The spectacle was sufficiently embarrassing that the Prime Minister decreed within a week that executions would theretofore be hidden behind prison doors.
—
Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2026
The reaction to the release of All Quiet on the Western Front in Germany marked an early Hollywood encounter with the pathological race hatred of a theretofore unknown political party.
—Thomas Doherty, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Sep. 2022
While deal volume in July and August still trends slower, recent years have enjoyed more robust markets during this period than theretofore.
—Frederick Peters, Forbes, 5 July 2022
There weren’t many bright colors, but some theretofore unnoticed textural quirks—on clothes, on faces—went wild with deep, scrutinizing, photographic detail.
—Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 20 Dec. 2021
My confidence had reached a height theretofore unseen.
—Shannon Driskill, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2021
Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2026
The reaction to the release of All Quiet on the Western Front in Germany marked an early Hollywood encounter with the pathological race hatred of a theretofore unknown political party.
—Thomas Doherty, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Sep. 2022
While deal volume in July and August still trends slower, recent years have enjoyed more robust markets during this period than theretofore.
—Frederick Peters, Forbes, 5 July 2022
There weren’t many bright colors, but some theretofore unnoticed textural quirks—on clothes, on faces—went wild with deep, scrutinizing, photographic detail.
—Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 20 Dec. 2021
My confidence had reached a height theretofore unseen.
—Shannon Driskill, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for theretofore
Adverb
-
But as of Tuesday evening, Wasserman Schultz’s opponents had yet to agree on who should carry that torch.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
3 June 2026
-
Delisle knew something Gertrud and her daughters didn’t yet.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
Adverb
-
Combined with the sweaty temps, my neighborhood is seeing mushroom variants heretofore unknown to science.—
AJ Willingham,
AJC.com,
27 May 2026
-
This book isolated and made analyzable things which had heretofore floated along unnoticed in the broad stream of perception.—
Wyatt Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
26 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Theretofore.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/theretofore. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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