too
Often confused with to and two
- 1To a degree beyond what is needed, wanted, or proper.
The soup was too salty for anyone to enjoy.
He drives too fast on these narrow roads.
UsageOften followed by to + verb or for: too hot to drink, too big for me. Strengthen it with much: much too late.
Similaroverly, excessively, unduly
Note
A degree word that sets a limit and says the quality has passed it.
- 2Also; in addition: marking a statement as equally true as the one before it.
She speaks French, and she reads Latin too.
We were invited to the wedding, and our parents were too.
UsageUsually at the end: I like it too. To agree with a negative statement, use either: I don't like it either.
Similaradditionally
Note
Here the word joins one statement to another, and its history explains why. Old English tō, an adverbial use of the preposition to, once carried the idea of "apart, separately", and what is set apart came to be what is added.
Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
- Too derives from Old English tō, used adverbially from the preposition tō. en.wiktionary.org
- The additive meaning developed from an earlier meaning of apart or separately. en.wiktionary.org
- 3To a high degree; very, used informally as an intensifier.
That puppy is too adorable for words.
I'm not too sure the shop will still be open this late.
UsageMostly after a negative, meaning not very: not too sure, it didn't go too well.
Similarso
Note
No limit is being exceeded, and that is what separates it from the "excessive" meaning.
I'm not too sure about this.
She doesn't talk too much.
Less common meanings
- 4Used to contradict a negative claim, insisting that something is or was the case after all.
I did too lock the door before we left!
She is too coming to the party, whatever he says.
UsageRepeats the verb of a denial: I did too!, I am too! So works the same way: I did so.
Similarso
Note
A playground retort: the speaker answers a denial by echoing its verb and adding the word, as in I am too!, Have too! and Can too jump it!
- 5Used to add emphasis to a statement, without referring to anything said before.
Note
Here the word adds force without adding anything. Unlike the "also" meaning, it points back to no earlier statement. Dickens still uses it in Bleak House (1852–53).
Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
- Charles Dickens uses emphatic 'too' in Bleak House; the example is spoken by the trooper. gutenberg.org
- Bleak House was first published serially in 1852–1853. gla.ac.uk
Practice
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Origin
From Middle English to ('also, in addition to'), from the adverbial use of the Old English preposition tō ('to, into'), which also meant 'furthermore, also, besides'. The 'in addition, also' sense grew out of an original meaning of 'apart, separately'. It is a doublet of 'to'.
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts
- Too derives from Middle English to, meaning 'also, in addition to', through the adverbial use of Old English tō, meaning 'furthermore, also, besides', alongside the preposition meaning 'to, into'. en.wiktionary.org
- The additive sense developed from an original meaning 'apart, separately'. en.wiktionary.org
- Too is a doublet of to. en.wiktionary.org