not before tomorrow

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "not before tomorrow" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something will not happen until the following day or later. Example: "I won't be able to finish the report; it will be ready not before tomorrow."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

But not before this weekend, which is going to be heaven.

The New York Times - Sports

They are offering a generous 4/1 that it won't be before 2018, and 7/2 for not before 2026.

The Guardian

Most have promised to cut tariffs on over 80% of EU imports, but not before 2022.

The Economist

If it does not, Mr Kok will continue as caretaker prime minister until a general election, probably not before late autumn.

The Economist

Citigroup's dividend, now at just one cent per quarter, is expected to eventually be raised, but not before 2013.

The New York Times

Last year the Connecticut General Assembly approved the purchase of new rail cars with 2,000 seats, although not before 2006.

The New York Times

So the book has been opened as follows: 4/1 September; 7/4 October; 3/1 November; 6/1 December; 7/2 not before 2013.

The Guardian

When Hughes returns to the Yankees, probably not before July 1, he will wear glasses on the mound.

The New York Times - Sports

Louis Schweitzer, chairman of Renault, has said repeatedly that the company might consider returning to the United States, but not before 2010.

The New York Times

But the withholding tables cannot be changed until after the tax cut becomes law, probably not before summer.

The New York Times

ATP World Tour Finals order of play: Sunday, 20 November: Federer v Tsonga (not before 1400 GMT), Nadal v Fish (not before 2000 GMT).

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "not before tomorrow" to clearly communicate that an action or event will not occur until the day after the present day. This phrase is suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid assuming "not before tomorrow" means something will definitely happen tomorrow. It only indicates the earliest possible time; the event could occur later.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not before tomorrow" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, modifying a verb or clause to specify when an action or event can occur. It indicates a minimum timeframe, suggesting that something will not happen any earlier than the day following the present day. Ludwig can show examples of similar use.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the adverbial phrase "not before tomorrow" is used to indicate that something will occur no sooner than the day following the current one. While grammatically sound and widely understood, there were no exact examples found in the provided data. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. Depending on the context, alternative expressions such as "no sooner than tomorrow" or "only from tomorrow onwards" can be used.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Not earlier than tomorrow

Emphasizes the earliest possible time for something to occur.

No sooner than tomorrow

Highlights that something will definitely not happen before the specified time.

Only from tomorrow onwards

Focuses on a starting point in time, implying unavailability before that.

Beginning tomorrow

Indicates a clear start date for an event or action.

Starting tomorrow

Specifies when something will commence.

After today

Simply states that something will not happen during the current day.

From the next day

Highlights that something will start happening on the subsequent day.

Not before the following day

Uses a more formal tone to indicate a delay until the next day.

Not until the morrow

Employs an archaic term for 'tomorrow', adding a touch of formality.

Tomorrow or later

Suggests the possibility of the event happening tomorrow or at a later time.

FAQs

How can I use "not before tomorrow" in a sentence?

Use "not before tomorrow" to indicate that something will not happen any sooner than the day after today. For example, "The results will be available "not before tomorrow"".

What is a more formal way to say "not before tomorrow"?

A more formal alternative to "not before tomorrow" could be "not before the following day". This phrasing is suitable for professional correspondence or academic writing.

What's the difference between "not before tomorrow" and "after tomorrow"?

"Not before tomorrow" means something will happen on tomorrow or later. "After tomorrow" implies something will happen sometime following the day after today.

Is it correct to say "not before tomorrow morning"?

Yes, it is correct. Specifying "not before tomorrow morning" clarifies that the event won't happen any earlier than the morning of the day after today. It adds precision to the timeframe.