too
Americanadverb
-
in addition; also; furthermore; moreover.
young, clever, and rich too.
-
to an excessive extent or degree; beyond what is desirable, fitting, or right.
too sick to travel.
-
more, as specified, than should be.
too near the fire.
-
(used as an affirmative to contradict a negative statement).
I am too!
-
extremely; very.
She wasn't too pleased with his behavior.
idioms
adverb
-
as well; in addition; also
can I come too?
-
in or to an excessive degree; more than a fitting or desirable amount
I have too many things to do
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extremely
you're too kind
-
informal indeed: used to reinforce a command
you will too do it!
-
certainly; indeed
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"No one is expecting me, I get my inspiration, I'm in a better place, and the company is too."
From BBC
Captain Harry Brook said England's batters were "too careful" in their 30-run defeat by West Indies at the T20 World Cup.
From BBC
Cort resisted roles that leaned too heavily into eccentricity, rejecting a part, to his later regret, in the 1975 Oscar winner “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.”
From Los Angeles Times
For Schott, seeing those decisions unfold almost a year to the day before her daughter’s death was too much to bear.
From Los Angeles Times
The hearing turned tense over names in the Epstein files that had been redacted, too.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
