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

Here’s how to claim your lottery prize All Michigan Lottery retailers can redeem prizes up to $600. —Detroit Free Press Staff, Freep.com, 6 Dec. 2025

Portions of Colorado are under a winter storm warning on Friday and into the weekend as snow accumulations up to 2 and 3 feet are possible. —Deputy News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2025

Dado Ruvic | Reuters Elon Musk’s SpaceX, is initiating a secondary share sale that would give the company a valuation of up to $800 billion, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday. —Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 6 Dec. 2025

Thankfully, all agreed this cast was up to the task. —Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 5 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

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