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

Two other people were treated and released, but two more remained unaccounted for more than 24 hours after the seven stories of concrete flooring collapsed onto each other inside a parking garage stairwell. —Kaitlyn McCormick, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026

The teacher cued us onto our bellies for a backbend sequence. —Allegra Givens, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026

Alternatively, drivers can continue on Acalanes Road, turn left onto Mount Diablo Boulevard, continue through downtown Lafayette or merge onto eastbound Highway 24 via the First Street on-ramp. —Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2026

One strong gust of wind can be enough to flip one of these trailers onto its side. —Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 10 Apr. 2026

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