unto

preposition

un·​to ˈən-(ˌ)tü How to pronounce unto (audio)
1
: to
2
used as a function word to indicate reference or concern
they became a world unto themselvesAnne T. Fleming

Examples of unto in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The platform shares this information in fun and visual ways, and it’s become almost a holiday unto itself in its own way. Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023 In its most ecstatic moments, Renaissance feels like a spiritual experience unto itself. Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Nov. 2023 On Instagram, jokes about poor housing affordability are a genre unto themselves. Jim Tankersley, New York Times, 17 Nov. 2023 Made up of more than 30,000 islands across 650 square miles, and ranging in size from boulders to islands large enough to house a village, the islands in the Stockholm Archipelago are a world unto themselves. Madeline Weinfield, Travel + Leisure, 11 Oct. 2023 There, on party nights, a bouncer might be stationed, to make sure that only the most soigné are permitted upstairs, which is a whole scene unto itself: guest d.j.s, bottle service, sparklers. Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 12 Nov. 2023 Her Mollie is almost a land unto herself, shadowed by passing, shape-shifting clouds. Tom Gliatto, Peoplemag, 19 Oct. 2023 While ultimately a novel about friendship and acceptance, the passages where Tokue lovingly prepares the sweet bean paste shine, making dorayaki a main character unto itself. Sonia Chopra, Bon Appétit, 18 Oct. 2023 Hezbollah also operates within the hybrid structure of the sectarian system by playing an integral part in the government but also by functioning as a state unto itself. Asher Kaufman, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unto.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, probably from un- (as in until) + to to

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of unto was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near unto

Cite this Entry

“Unto.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unto. Accessed 8 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

unto

preposition
un·​to ˌən-tə How to pronounce unto (audio)
ˈən-tü

More from Merriam-Webster on unto

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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