unto
preposition
un·to
ˈən-(ˌ)tü 
1
: to
2
—used as a function word to indicate reference or concern
they became a world unto themselves—
Anne T. Fleming
Anne T. Fleming
Examples of unto in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Now, the sibling directors have gone once more unto the breach, and returned with a chronicle of a whole family of these woodland denizens.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 11 Apr. 2024
That was an event unto itself, and a good enough reason for an easy sellout of the 5,000-capacity Moody Amphitheater.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 9 Apr. 2024
But Rist, 61, also considers a bag to be many things besides: a good friend, a portrait of its owner, a universe unto itself and a vessel — similar to the human body.
—Kate Guadagnino, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2024
And since speculating about what Beyoncé could do next is sort of an act of fiction unto itself, several writers imagined their own Beyoncé interviews — quotes that never happened to make the unreal real.
—Rolling Stone, 2 Apr. 2024
Saint Catherine, who fasted almost unto death, was said to be revived after drinking blood from the side wound of Jesus.
—Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2024
One of the common themes running through the seemingly disparate stories posted to this space is the idea that the most basic of technologies—namely, the internet—can be an assistive technology unto itself.
—Steven Aquino, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
Feeling bad about the memes tweets immediately became a meme unto themselves.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 22 Mar. 2024
Certainly, the Germany of 1932 was a place unto itself.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 18 Mar. 2024
David Fear, Rolling Stone, 11 Apr. 2024
That was an event unto itself, and a good enough reason for an easy sellout of the 5,000-capacity Moody Amphitheater.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 9 Apr. 2024
But Rist, 61, also considers a bag to be many things besides: a good friend, a portrait of its owner, a universe unto itself and a vessel — similar to the human body.
—Kate Guadagnino, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2024
And since speculating about what Beyoncé could do next is sort of an act of fiction unto itself, several writers imagined their own Beyoncé interviews — quotes that never happened to make the unreal real.
—Rolling Stone, 2 Apr. 2024
Saint Catherine, who fasted almost unto death, was said to be revived after drinking blood from the side wound of Jesus.
—Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2024
One of the common themes running through the seemingly disparate stories posted to this space is the idea that the most basic of technologies—namely, the internet—can be an assistive technology unto itself.
—Steven Aquino, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
Feeling bad about the memes tweets immediately became a meme unto themselves.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 22 Mar. 2024
Certainly, the Germany of 1932 was a place unto itself.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 18 Mar. 2024
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 19 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
unto
preposition
un·to
ˌən-tə
ˈən-tü
More from Merriam-Webster on unto
Britannica English: Translation of unto for Arabic Speakers
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