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

It’s been a year since Brown decided to skip college and turn his eyes onto the professional game. —Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 24 Jan. 2026

Citing preliminary information, police said the driver turned north from Bovet Road onto South El Camino and hit the pedestrian in the north crosswalk of South El Camino Real at 17th Avenue. —Jason Green, Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2026

Expanding The Reach Of Albion Online Moving Albion Online onto Xbox consoles is a logical next step in Sandbox Interactive’s platform strategy with optimized with controller navigation, UI adaptations, and console-specific features, further pushes that evolution. —David Jagneaux, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026

The ferocious Yonkers, New York, native — who former Def Jam president Lyor Cohen credits with saving the label — exploded onto the scene as one of rap’s biggest stars just before the turn of the century, and became the face of the Ruff Ryders movement. —Michael Saponara, Billboard, 23 Jan. 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