to

1 of 3

preposition

tə,

tu̇,

ˈtü 

1

a

—used as a function word to suggest actual or figurative movement toward a place, person, or thing to be reached

They climbed to the top of the mountain.

I sent the email to the wrong address.

We went back to our original idea.

b

—used as a function word to indicate direction

There is a lake a mile to the south of here.

turned his back to the door

a tendency to silliness

c

—used as a function word to indicate contact or proximity

applied stain to the table

put her hand to her heart

d(1)

—used as a function word to indicate the place or point that is the far limit

100 miles to the nearest town

The temperature outside rose to 95 degrees.

(2)

—used as a function word to indicate the limit of extent

stripped to the waist

wet to the skin

e

—used as a function word to indicate relative position

perpendicular to the floor

placed at right angles to the wall

2

a

—used as a function word to indicate purpose, intention, tendency, result, or end

came to our aid

her inclination to negative thinking

The school was converted to an apartment building.

To their surprise, the train left early.

b

—used as a function word to indicate the result of an action or a process

broken all to pieces

go to seed

to their surprise, the train left on time

sharpened to a point

3

—used as a function word to indicate position or relation in time: such as

a

: before

five minutes to five

b

: until sense 2

works from eight to five

Up to now, no one has beaten the record.

I can't believe there are only five days to the wedding.

4

—used as a function word to indicate addition, attachment, connection, belonging, possession, accompaniment, or response

the key to the door

You have always been a good friend to me.

danced to live music

comes to her call

5

—used as a function word (1) to indicate the extent or degree (as of completeness or accuracy)

was always generous to a fault

ten years ago to the day

or the extent and result (as of an action or a condition)

worn to a frazzle

increased the amount to $1,000

(2) to indicate the last or an intermediate point of a series

moderate to cool temperatures

Our band plays all kinds of music from country to rock.

6

a

—used as a function word (1) to indicate a relation to one that serves as a standard

inferior to her earlier works

(2) to indicate similarity, correspondence, dissimilarity, or proportion

I have a pair of shoes similar to those.

This problem is nothing to [=compared to] the ones we previously had.

at waist height to an average adult

b

—used as a function word to indicate agreement or conformity

Add salt to taste.

The wedding gown was made to her specifications.

to my knowledge

c

—used as a function word to indicate a proportion in terms of numbers or quantities

20 students to a class

400 to the box

They won the game ten to six.

gave odds of nine to one

7

a

—used as a function word (1) to indicate the application of an adjective or a noun

agreeable to everyone

attitude to friends

title to the property

(2) to indicate the relation of a verb to its complement or to a complementary element

spoke to their concerns

alluded to her earlier comment

(3) to indicate the receiver of an action or the one for which something is done or exists

gave a receipt to the customer

and often used with a reflexive pronoun to indicate exclusiveness (as of possession) or separateness

had the house to themselves

b

—used as a function word to indicate agency

fall to the blows of their opponents

8

—used as a function word to indicate that the following verb is an infinitive

wants to go

I like to swim.

The tension seemed to evaporate.

and often used by itself at the end of a clause in place of an infinitive suggested by the preceding context

You can go if you want to. [=you can go if you want to go]

They know more than they seem to.

to

2 of 3

adverb

ˈtü 

1

a

—used as a function word to indicate direction toward

run to and fro

b

: close to the wind

… the gale having gone over, we came to …

—R. H. Dana

2

: to a state of consciousness or awareness

came to an hour after the accident

A loud noise brought me to.

3

a

chiefly British : into contact especially with the frame

—used of a door or a window

The door swung to.

b

—used as a function word to indicate physical application or attachment

He … hath set to his seal …

—John 3:33 (King James Version)

4

—used as a function word to indicate application or attention

I will stand to …

—William Shakespeare

5

: at hand : by

… get to see 'em close to.

—Richard Llewellyn

TO

3 of 3

abbreviation

1

table of organization

2

traditional orthography

3

turnover

Synonyms of to

Preposition

• before

Examples of to in a Sentence

Preposition

right now it's 25 minutes to 10:00

Adverb

The wind blew the door to.

Recent Examples on the Web

Preposition

Different food hubs help farmers cut expenses by providing a variety of resources, such as warehousing, transportation and delivery, education, marketing, contract management and some even provide supplies to farmers. —Cristina Larue, Arkansas Online, 9 Nov. 2025

The Indonesian government cited security and safety concerns for denying the visas, but an Israel Gymnastics Federation (IGF) spokesperson confirmed to Fox News Digital that the country's security team gave clearance to its athletes. —Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 9 Nov. 2025

Adverb

The parks remain closed and will likely stay closed until mid to late next week. —Bebe Hodges, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025

An ally becomes a foe After swimming to and brutally fighting his way out of a house with two Russian soldiers, Owen calls Lester and Dawn, who encourage him to leave the mission behind. —Barry Levitt, TIME, 30 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Preposition

Middle English, from Old English tō; akin to Old High German zuo to, Latin donec as long as, until

First Known Use

Preposition

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adverb

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Rhymes for to

• blew
• blue
• boo
• brew
• chew
• chou
• clue
• coo
• coup
• crew
• cue
• dew

Kids Definition

to

1 of 2 preposition

tə 

tu̇,

(ˈ)tü

1

a

—used to indicate movement or something suggesting movement toward a place, person, or thing reached

walked to school

send data to disk storage

went back to my first idea

b

—used to indicate direction

a mile to the south

your back to the window

c

—used to indicate contact

apply polish to the table

d

—used to indicate a limit

the water was up to my waist

2

—used to indicate purpose, result, or end

came to our aid

broke to pieces

sentenced to death

3

a

: before entry 2 sense 3

at quarter to five

b

: until entry 1

from nine to five

4

—used to indicate belonging, accompanying, or responding

the key to the lock

dance to live music

not much you could say to that

5

a

—used to indicate a relation of likeness or unlikeness

similar to mine

b

—used to indicate agreement

salt to taste

c

—used to indicate a proportion in terms of number or amount

packed 10 to the box

6

a

—used to indicate the relation of adjective to noun

agreeable to all of us

or verb to complement

sticks to business

b

—used to indicate one that receives an action

spoke to the teacher

give it to me

7

: for no one but

had the house to ourselves

8

—used to mark an infinitive

likes to swim

and often used by itself in place of an infinitive

I didn't mean to

to

2 of 2 adverb

ˈtü 

1

: in the direction toward

run to and fro

2

: into contact especially with a frame

snapped her purse to

wind blew the door to

3

: to a state of consciousness or awareness

brings him to with smelling salts