今(いま)まで

今(いま)まで refers to the entire period from some point in the past up to the present. It often appears in sentences about cumulative experience or ongoing states.

Common patterns

Can function as an adverb (今(いま)まで待(ま)っていた — I've been waiting until now) or as a noun modifier with の (今(いま)までの経験(けいけん) — experience up to now).

• 今(いま)まで〜たことがない: have never ~ until now
• 今(いま)までの〜: ~ up to now, previous ~
• 今(いま)まで通(どお)り: as before, same as always
• 今(いま)までにない: unprecedented

Similar words

• これまで: until now (slightly more formal, often written)
• 今(いま)のところ: for now, so far (focuses on the current situation)
• 従来(じゅうらい): up to now, conventional (formal/written)