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

Read more Fan who fell out of stands at Pirates-Cubs game in critical condition A fan who fell out of a stand and onto track during the April 30 Pirates-Chicago Cubs game in Pittsburgh remained in critical condition May 1 and has been identified as Kavan Markwood. —Jane Onyanga-Omara, USA Today, 3 May 2025

Yet Sobule recognized the persistent sexism that followed her and her peers onto television and the covers of magazines. —Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2025

Mounting Type Most bathroom exhaust fans are designed to mount onto the ceiling, while others mount vertically onto the wall. —Molly Blanco, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 May 2025

In recent months though, and as the weather’s picked up, another style of jeans has been shuffling their way onto our moodboards. —Daisy Jones, Vogue, 2 May 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