to

SayTOOUS/tu//tuː/

Often confused with too and two

23 meanings of to

Practice

1
action namedparticle
Used before a verb, as in 'to go', or alone when the verb is already clear, as in 'I meant to.'
I want to go home.
She learned to swim last summer.
UsageSay I want to go, but I can go.
Note
2
goal (place)preposition
In the direction of a place, person or thing, often until you reach it.
We drove to the beach.
The ball rolled to the edge of the road.
UsageSay go to the park, but go home.
Oppositefrom
Note
3
particle
Used before a verb to say why something is done, meaning 'in order to'.
She left early to catch the train.
He saves money to travel.
UsageUse to before a verb (left early to catch the bus), but for before a noun (went out for bread).
Note
4
preposition
Used after some verbs, adjectives, and nouns to show what they are about: 'agree to', 'kind to', 'the answer to'.
Please keep to the path.
I will see to the tickets.
UsageSay agree to a plan and agree with a person.
5
preposition
Used to show who receives something or who an action is aimed at.
I gave the keys to my brother.
Say hello to your parents.
UsageSay explain it to me (not ~~incorrect: explain me it~~).
Note
6
end of rangepreposition
Used between two numbers or points to show a range, as in 'nine to five'.
The shop is open from nine to six.
Children aged five to eleven go free.
UsageSay from nine to six.
Similaruntil, till, through
7
preposition
Used to show the state that something reaches after an action, as in 'torn to pieces'.
The vase was smashed to bits.
The story moved her to tears.
UsageSay smashed to bits or moved to tears.
Note
8
extentpreposition
Used to show how far or how exactly something is true, as in 'to some extent'.
The story is true to some extent.
The clock is correct to the second.
UsageSay to a certain extent or accurate to the second.
Note
9
as perpreposition
Means 'according to', as in 'go to plan' or 'made to order'.
The party did not go to plan.
The cake was baked to Grandma's recipe.
UsageAlso common in cut to size and made to measure.

Less common meanings

10
before the hourpreposition
Before the hour when telling the time: 'ten to six' means 5:50.
It's twenty to nine.
The bus leaves at five to three.
UsageThe opposite is past: ten past six means 6:10.
Similarbefore, of
Oppositepast, after
Note
11
ratiopreposition
Used to compare two things, or to give a ratio or odds, as in 'ten to one'.
Mix the paint two to one with water.
The final score was three to one.
UsageSay three to one for 3:1.
Similaragainst
Note
12
preposition
Used to say who thinks or feels something, or how something seems to a person.
To me, the blue shirt looks better.
The plan sounded crazy to her at first.
UsageSay to me for your own view: To me, it looks good.
Similarfor
Note
13
particle
Used after 'be' to say what is planned, what must happen, or what happened later.
You are to be home by ten.
Nobody is to leave the room.
UsageThis sounds formal: You are to wait here.
14
touchingpreposition
Used to show that one thing touches or is fixed against another, as in 'nailed to the wall'.
She held the phone to her ear.
The poster was taped to the door.
Similaragainst, onto, on
15
preposition
Used to say what something has in it or is made up of, as in 'there's nothing to it'.
There is more to this story than you think.
The job is easy, and there's nothing to it.
UsageSay there's nothing to it when something is easy.
Similarin
Note
16
with musicpreposition
Used to show that something happens with a sound or music, or keeps time with it.
The kids danced to their favorite song.
I woke up to the sound of rain on the roof.
UsageSay dance to a song.
Note
17
feeling causedpreposition
Used to show the reaction or result that something produces, as in 'to loud cheers'.
Much to my surprise, the cake came out perfect.
She tried again, but to no effect.
UsageSay to my surprise.
Note
18
math powerpreposition
In math, used to say what power a number is raised to.
Two to the fourth is sixteen.
Ten to the power of three is a thousand.
UsageSay two to the fourth for 2 with a small 4.
Note
19
shutadverb
Used after 'push' or 'pull' in some regions to mean 'so that it is closed', as in 'pull the door to'.
Push the door to, because it's cold outside.
He pulled the gate to behind him.
Similarshut, closed
Oppositeopen, ajar
Note
20
prepositiondialectalCanadaNewfoundlandWales
Means 'at', when asking or saying where someone or something is.
Where's the cat to?
Stay where you're to till I get back.
Similarat
Note
21
sailingadverb
On a ship, toward the wind, as in 'bring her to'.
The captain brought the ship to and waited.
We hove to until the fog lifted.
Note
22
SayTOHUS/toʊ/UK/təʊ/
filler (Indian English)particlecolloquialIndia
A filler word that adds a little stress to what you say.
This exam is to so hard, yaar.
You to are always late, yaar.
Note
23
prepositionobsolete
An old use meaning 'as a', as in 'took her to wife'.
Note

More uses

come toto wake up after being unconscious

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of to apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 1–21, 23

From Old English tō, going back to an ancient root meaning "to." It is related to German zu and Dutch toe, and is a doublet of "too."

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 4 facts

English to derives from Old English tō. en.wiktionary.org
Its ancestry includes an ancient root meaning “to.” en.wiktionary.org
English to is related to German zu and Dutch toe. en.wiktionary.org
English to and too are doublets. en.wiktionary.org

Meaning 22

From the Hindi word तो (to).

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 1 fact

The separate English particle to was borrowed from Hindi तो (to). en.wiktionary.org