waited until

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "waited until" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that someone postponed an action or event until a specific time or condition was met. Example: "She waited until the rain stopped before leaving the house."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She waited until daylight.

The Washington Post

I waited until she spoke.

Harvard University

"They waited until Monday.

The New York Times

I waited until 51.

The New York Times

He waited until Tuesday to call her.

The New York Times

"He just waited until it was right".

The New York Times

Instead, the task waited until evening.

The New York Times - Sports

She waited — until after midnight.

The Washington Post

He waited until Pacquiao came to him.

The New York Times - Sports

Bryan has waited until last.

The New Yorker

She waited until 10 o'clock.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Vary your sentence structure by sometimes placing the "waited until" clause at the beginning of the sentence for emphasis.

Common error

Avoid using "since" when you mean "until". "Since" indicates a starting point, while "until" indicates an ending point. Incorrect: She waited since the rain stopped. Correct: She "waited until" the rain stopped.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "waited until" functions as a temporal marker, indicating when a certain action took place in relation to a specific event or time. It signifies a period of deferment before the action occurred, as exemplified by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Academia

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

1%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "waited until" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to indicate the timing of an action in relation to a specific event or condition. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase appears frequently in diverse sources, especially in News & Media. When writing, it's crucial to ensure that the context clearly defines the triggering event and to avoid confusing "until" with "since". Consider employing alternative expressions such as "held off until" for greater precision, but know that this phrase is already very versatile.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Held off until

Emphasizes delaying action with more intention than "waited until".

Postponed until

Highlights a formal rescheduling of something to a later time.

Delayed until

Focuses on the act of causing something to happen at a later time.

Deferred until

Implies a conscious decision to put something off to a future point.

Bided time until

Suggests waiting patiently for an opportune moment.

Marked time until

Suggests passively waiting for an amount of time to pass.

Put off until

Indicates procrastination and a more casual postponement.

Stalled until

Implies intentionally creating a delay for strategic reasons.

Remained until

Focuses more on continuing to be in a place or state until something happens.

Lingered until

Suggests a reluctance to leave or act before a specific moment.

FAQs

How can I use "waited until" in a sentence?

The phrase "waited until" is used to indicate that an action was postponed to a specific time or event. For example, "He "waited until" the light turned green to cross the street."

What are some alternatives to "waited until"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "held off until", "delayed until", or "postponed until".

Is there a difference between "waited until" and "waited for"?

"Waited until" implies a specific condition or time needed to pass before acting, while "waited for" implies expecting someone or something to arrive. For example, "He "waited until" the store opened" versus "He waited for the bus."

When is it appropriate to use "waited until" in formal writing?

The phrase "waited until" is appropriate for both formal and informal writing. However, in very formal contexts, consider using a more sophisticated alternative like "deferred until" or "held in abeyance until".