up to

preposition

1

—used as a function word to indicate extension as far as a specified place

sank up to his knees in the mud

2

—used as a function word to indicate a limit or boundary

up to 50,000 copies a month

worked up to the last minute

Examples of up to in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Transitional Housing Program-Plus (THP-Plus), California’s housing program for former foster youth ages 18-25, provides up to 36 months of housing and supportive services. —First Place For Youth, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025

Often, places didn’t live up to the listings, with professional photos that turned dark into light, small into large, narrow into wide. —Joyce Cohen, New York Times, 1 May 2025

Prosecutors said that as Verna walked up to his car, Cummings pulled out a gun and shot the officer, while his friend, Kenneth Gay, jumped out of the car and unloaded several more rounds into Verna. —Hannah Wiley, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2025

On the hierarchy of healthy beverages, seltzer bubbles up to the top. —Stacey Colino, Time, 1 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for up to

• accrue
• ado
• ainu
• aircrew
• airscrew
• anew
• askew
• baboo
• babu
• bamboo
• beaucoup
• bijou

Kids Definition

up to

preposition

1

: as far as a named part or place

sank up to my hips

2

: in accordance with

the game was not up to our standards

3

a

: to the limit of

come in sizes up to 10

b

: as many or as much as

carry up to 10 tons

4

: until entry 1, till

from dawn up to dusk