onto

1 of 2

preposition

on·​to ˈȯn-(ˌ)tü 

ˈän-

1

: to a position on

We climbed onto the roof.

Turn left onto Fifth Avenue.

2

: in or into a state of awareness about

put me onto your methods

was onto something that should have been pursued further

—Bosley Crowther

3

—used as a function word to indicate a set each element of which is the image of at least one element of another set

a function mapping the set S onto the set T

onto

2 of 2

adjective

: mapping elements in such a way that every element in one set is the image of at least one element in another set

a function that is one-to-one and onto

Examples of onto in a Sentence

Preposition

We climbed onto the building's roof.

The book fell onto the floor.

The water spilled onto the floor.

The cowboy leaped onto his horse.

Transfer the data onto a disk.

Turn left onto Third Street at the traffic light.

Recent Examples on the Web

Preposition

As the printer drew the bundles onto a flat bed, each layer was partially cured with ultraviolet light. —Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 13 Nov. 2025

Impossible when the helicopter explosion projects Ethan Hunt back onto the train. —Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 12 Nov. 2025

Hold onto your butts, brochachos, because a lengthy — yet abbreviated — summary of the penultimate season of Stranger Things lies in wait. —Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 12 Nov. 2025

Trump framed a pardon as an opportunity to further stabilize Israel after the country recently signed onto a historic though fragile peace deal suspending a three-year-long war with Hamas, and secured the release of all living hostages from the terrorist group in Gaza. —Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 12 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Preposition

1581, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1942, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing onto

• build onto
• fasten onto
• get on/onto the subject of
• get onto
• give onto
• latch onto
• lock onto
• map onto
• onto something
• project onto
• stumble across/on/onto/upon
• voted on/onto

Kids Definition

onto

preposition

on·​to

ˌȯn-tə, 

ˌän-;

ˈȯn-tü, 

ˈän-

1

: to a position on or against

leaped onto the horse

climbed onto the roof

2

: in a state of knowing about or becoming aware of

I'm onto their little game