Word · CEFR C2 · Frequency #4192
hitherto
迄今；至今
up to this time; until now
- 1.
used in negative statement to describe a situation that has existed up to this point or up to the present time
用于否定句中,描述迄今为止一直存在的某种情况
用于否定句中,描述迄今为止一直存在的某种情况；迄今；至今
In use
The origins of the ancient manuscript have hitherto remained a mystery.
Hitherto, the company has focused solely on domestic markets.
The cause of the disease has hitherto been unknown to scientists.
hitherto + present perfect
常用于完成时态，表示从过去到现在的持续状态。
The problem has hitherto been ignored.
这个问题迄今一直未受重视。
hitherto + adjective
This is a hitherto unknown species.
这是一种迄今未知的物种。
hitherto at beginning of sentence
置于句首作状语，常用逗号隔开。
Hitherto, the government has maintained silence.
迄今，政府一直保持沉默。
Common mistakes
The hitherto manager resigned last week.The previous manager resigned last week.
「hitherto」是副词，意为‘迄今，至今’，不能直接用作形容词修饰名词表示‘之前的’。应改用形容词 'previous' 或重新组织句子。
She lived in Beijing hitherto.She has lived in Beijing hitherto.
「hitherto」表示‘到目前为止’，通常与现在完成时连用，强调从过去持续到现在的状态。使用一般过去时无法体现‘至今’的含义。
Connections
Collocations
- hitherto unknown
- 迄今未知的
- The disease was hitherto unknown in this region.这种疾病迄今为止在该地区是未知的。
- hitherto unseen
- 前所未见的
- The telescope revealed hitherto unseen details of the galaxy.望远镜揭示了该星系前所未有的细节。
- hitherto unsuspected
- 迄今未被怀疑的
- The investigation uncovered a hitherto unsuspected fraud.调查揭露了一个迄今未被怀疑的欺诈行为。
- hitherto considered
- 迄今被认为的
- This method is more efficient than hitherto considered possible.这种方法比迄今被认为可能的更高效。
- hitherto existing
- 迄今存在的
- The new policy supersedes all hitherto existing regulations.新政策取代了所有迄今存在的法规。
Learner notes
Memory Tip
拆解记忆：hither（这里）+to（到）= 直到这里，意为至今。
Context & Register
正式用词，多用于书面语、学术或法律语境，表示“迄今”。在口语中极少使用。
Pronunciation & Spelling
All four words share the rhyming ending /tuː/ with 'hitherto', but note that 'into' and 'onto' are often reduced to /ˈɪntə/ and /ˈɒntə/ in rapid speech. 'Thereto' and 'hereto' are formal adverbs.
Usage priority
Collins 词频等级为 1，建议结合例句记忆，而不是只背中文释义。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, OCTANOVE, WIKTIONARY.