onto

1 of 2

preposition

on·​to ˈȯn-(ˌ)tü 

ˈän-

1

: to a position on

We climbed onto the roof.

Turn left onto Fifth Avenue.

2

: in or into a state of awareness about

put me onto your methods

was onto something that should have been pursued further

—Bosley Crowther

3

—used as a function word to indicate a set each element of which is the image of at least one element of another set

a function mapping the set S onto the set T

onto

2 of 2

adjective

: mapping elements in such a way that every element in one set is the image of at least one element in another set

a function that is one-to-one and onto

Example Sentences

Preposition

We climbed onto the building's roof.

The book fell onto the floor.

The water spilled onto the floor.

The cowboy leaped onto his horse.

Transfer the data onto a disk.

Turn left onto Third Street at the traffic light.

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Recent Examples on the Web

Preposition

Then his bus turned right, onto an access road into Managua’s Augusto C. Sandino International Airport. —Trish Wilson, Washington Post, 11 Feb. 2023

Even more, supporters said that allowing utilities to use this mechanism can save consumers money because utilities won’t have to borrow money and pass all that interest onto ratepayers. —Sarah Bowman, The Indianapolis Star, 10 Feb. 2023

Martin then left the parking lot and drove onto the 5 freeway heading southbound. —Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2023

Tacking onto this, Stapf says that a machine that heats up quickly is important. —Rebecca Norris, Peoplemag, 10 Feb. 2023

Each panel slides onto your existing curtain rod via rod pockets and comes with two Velcro tiebacks to pull the panels back during the day. —Maria Conti, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Feb. 2023

In the ad, Coolidge squirts some of the primer into her hand and smooths it onto her face. —Maddie Browning, BostonGlobe.com, 10 Feb. 2023

With an influx of gigayachts now coming onto the market, and American owners looking to build increasingly larger yachts, interest in refitting yachts like Golden Odyssey and Sarafsa is gaining real traction, says Nelson. —Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 10 Feb. 2023

With the shelving done, move onto the main event—the fridge itself. —Alma Avalle, Bon Appétit, 10 Feb. 2023

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Word History

First Known Use

Preposition

1581, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1942, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing onto

• build onto
• get onto
• get on/onto the subject of
• onto something
• map onto
• stumble across/on/onto/upon
• latch onto
• give onto
• fasten onto
• project onto
• voted on/onto
• lock onto

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• build onto
• get onto
• get on/onto the subject of
• onto something
• map onto
• stumble across/on/onto/upon
• latch onto
• give onto
• fasten onto
• project onto
• voted on/onto
• lock onto

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Kids Definition

onto

preposition

on·​to

ˌȯn-tə,

ˌän-;

ˈȯn-tü,

ˈän-

1

: to a position on or against

leaped onto the horse

climbed onto the roof

2

: in a state of knowing about or becoming aware of

I'm onto their little game