up to

1 of 2

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

up to

2 of 2

phrase

1

: capable of performing or dealing with

feels up to the task

2

: engaged in

what is he up to

3

: being the responsibility of

it's up to me

Examples of up to in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Preposition

Its secret designer outlet is overflowing with major markdowns—up to 68 percent off. —Alyssa Morin, InStyle, 11 Jan. 2026

From modern panels to rustic frames, even the window style is up to you. —Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 11 Jan. 2026

In 1996, the NBA unveiled its 50 Greatest Players list, recognizing the top players in league history up to that point. —Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 11 Jan. 2026

The production line is designed for electrode dimensions of up to two metres and is therefore suitable for multi-megawatt electrolyser systems. —Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 11 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Preposition

before the 12th 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