too

American  

[too] / tu /

adverb

1. in addition; also; furthermore; moreover.

   young, clever, and rich too.

2. to an excessive extent or degree; beyond what is desirable, fitting, or right.

   too sick to travel.

3. more, as specified, than should be.

   too near the fire.

4. (used as an affirmative to contradict a negative statement).

   I am too!

5. extremely; very.

   She wasn't too pleased with his behavior.

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idioms

1. only too. only.

too British  

/ tuː /

adverb

1. as well; in addition; also

   can I come too?

2. in or to an excessive degree; more than a fitting or desirable amount

   I have too many things to do

3. extremely

   you're too kind

4. informal indeed: used to reinforce a command

   you will too do it!

5. certainly; indeed

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too More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing too

• (too) close to home
• carry too far
• eat one's cake and have it, too
• go too far
• irons in the fire, too many
• life is too short
• none too
• not (too) bad
• only too
• speak too soon
• spread oneself too thin
• take on (too much)

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Usage

What's the difference between too, to, and two? Too means also (I’m going, too) or to an excessive degree (too much). 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). Two is the number equal to one plus one.The words are used in very different ways: too is an adverb, to is most commonly used as a preposition, 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 too, to, 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 too, to, and two.

Etymology

Origin of too

First recorded before 900; Middle English to, Old English, stressed variant of to (for the adverb); spelling too since the 16th century

Example Sentences

Encouragingly, services sectors gathered pace too, it said.

From The Wall Street Journal

So-called alternatives funds, which aim to mimic market-neutral strategies of hedge funds designed to minimize volatility, could be a good bet too.

From Barron's

There are plenty of parks in these neighborhoods, and parents say they bring their children to public playgrounds, too.

From Los Angeles Times

Yet when considering emergency appeals, the trick is to “balance the lock-in risk of saying too much against the transparency cost of saying too little,” Justice Barrett explains.

From The Wall Street Journal

“We have one very public horizontal deal,” he said, adding that the company is at “an advanced stage” in other negotiations and “you won’t have too long to wait” for additional details.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• awfully
• ever
• exceptionally
• extremely
• highly
• immensely
• overly
• remarkably
• unduly
• very