to

¹

[ too; unstressed too, tuh ]

preposition

1. (used for expressing motion or direction toward a point, person, place, or thing approached and reached, as opposed to from ):

   They came to the house.

2. (used for expressing direction or motion or direction toward something) in the direction of; toward:

   from north to south.

3. (used for expressing limit of movement or extension):

   He grew to six feet.

4. (used for expressing contact or contiguity) on; against; beside; upon:

   a right uppercut to the jaw;

   Apply varnish to the surface.

5. (used for expressing a point of limit in time) before; until:

   to this day;

   It is ten minutes to six.

   We work from nine to five.

6. (used for expressing aim, purpose, or intention):

   going to the rescue.

7. (used for expressing destination or appointed end):

   sentenced to jail.

8. (used for expressing agency, result, or consequence):

   to my dismay;

   The flowers opened to the sun.

9. (used for expressing a resulting state or condition):

   He tore it to pieces.

10. (used for expressing the object of inclination or desire):

    They drank to her health.

11. (used for expressing the object of a right or claim):

    claimants to an estate.

12. (used for expressing limit in degree, condition, or amount):

    wet to the skin;

    goods amounting to $1000;

    Tomorrow's high will be 75 to 80°.

13. (used for expressing addition or accompaniment) with:

    He added insult to injury.

    They danced to the music.

    Where is the top to this box?

14. (used for expressing attachment or adherence):

    She held to her opinion.

15. (used for expressing comparison or opposition):

    inferior to last year's crop;

    The score is eight to seven.

16. (used for expressing agreement or accordance) according to; by:

    a position to one's liking;

    to the best of my knowledge.

17. (used for expressing reference, reaction, or relation):

    What will he say to this?

18. (used for expressing a relative position):

    parallel to the roof.

19. (used for expressing a proportion of number or quantity) in; making up:

    12 to the dozen;

    20 miles to the gallon.

20. (used for indicating the indirect object of a verb, for connecting a verb with its complement, or for indicating or limiting the application of an adjective, noun, or pronoun):

    Give it to me.

    I refer to your work.

21. (used as the ordinary sign or accompaniment of the infinitive, as in expressing motion, direction, or purpose, in ordinary uses with a substantive object.)
22. Mathematics. raised to the power indicated:

    Three to the fourth is 81 (34 = 81).

adverb

1. toward a point, person, place, or thing, implied or understood.
2. toward a contact point or closed position:

   Pull the door to.

3. toward a matter, action, or work:

   We turned to with a will.

4. into a state of consciousness; out of unconsciousness:

   after he came to.

t.o.

²

abbreviation for

1. turnover.
2. turn over.

T.O.

³

or TO

abbreviation for

1. telegraph office.

to

¹

/ tʊ; tuː; tə /

preposition

1. used to indicate the destination of the subject or object of an action

   he climbed to the top

2. used to mark the indirect object of a verb in a sentence

   telling stories to children

3. used to mark the infinitive of a verb

   he wanted to go

4. as far as; until

   working from Monday to Friday

5. used to indicate equality

   16 ounces to the pound

6. against; upon; onto

   put your ear to the wall

7. before the hour of

   five minutes to four

8. accompanied by

   dancing to loud music

9. as compared with, as against

   the score was eight to three

10. used to indicate a resulting condition

    they starved to death

    he tore her dress to shreds

11. a dialect word for at 1

    where's it to?

    he's to town

adverb

1. towards a fixed position, esp (of a door) closed

to

²

the internet domain name for

1. Tonga

Word History and Origins

Origin of to¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English tō; cognate with Dutch te, toe, German zu

Word History and Origins

Origin of to¹

Old English tō; related to Old Frisian, Old Saxon to, Old High German zuo, Latin do- as in dōnec until

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. to and fro. fro ( def 2 ).

Example Sentences

Previous studies have found an increased risk of Type 2 diabetes and obesity later in life for infants exposed to GDM in utero.

From Science Daily

The study followed 198 infants, half of whom were exposed to GDM in utero.

From Science Daily

The data was collected between 1996 and 2006, with the majority recruited before GDM was typically treated with drugs like metformin or insulin to control blood sugar levels.

From Science Daily

"Surprisingly, GDM-exposed infants were more likely to experience slower body fat gain, but equivalent gain of lean body mass compared with infants of women without GDM, a trend called catch-down growth, which is typically seen in heavier babies who later align with typical growth patterns," said Widen.

From Science Daily

Analysis revealed that GDM-exposed babies were significantly more likely to see slow growth of fat mass and body fat percentage and more likely to be in the group with the slowest growth of BMI or even decreasing BMI.

From Science Daily

To Vs. Too Vs. Two

What's the difference between to, too, and two?

To is a very common word that performs many different functions, such as expressing direction (I’m driving to the office) or contact (Pin it to the wall), indicating an object or recipient (Give it to me), or setting a range (9 to 5) or limit (These go to 11). Too means also (I’m going, too) or to an excessive degree (too much). Two is the number equal to one plus one.

The words are used in very different ways: to is most commonly used as a preposition, too is an adverb, and two is a number that can be used as a noun or an adjective.

Perhaps the most common mistake involving the three words is using to when it should be too, or vice versa. Remember, if you mean to, don’t use too many o’s!

Here’s an example of to, too, and two used correctly in the same sentence.

Example: We went to two two-star restaurants, and it was two two-star restaurants too many!

Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between to, too, and two.

Quiz yourself on to vs. too vs. two!

Should to, too, or two be used in the following sentence?

I like pizza, _____, you know.