pronunciation note: Usually ppronounced (tə) before a consonant and (tu) before a vowel, but pronounced (tuː) when you are emphasizing it.In addition to the uses shown below, to is used in phrasal verbs such as 'see to' and 'come to'. It is also used with someverbs that have two objects in order to introduce the second object.
1. preposition
You use to when indicating the place that someone or something visits, moves towards, or points at.
Two friends and I drove to Florida during college spring break.
Ramsay made a second visit to Italy.
...a five-day road and rail journey to Paris.
She went to the window and looked out.
He pointed to a chair, signalling for her to sit.
2. preposition
If you go to an event, you go where it is taking place.
We went to a party at the leisure centre.
He came to dinner.
I do hope you'll be able to come to the wedding.
Eliza accepted Charles' invitation to a house party.
3. preposition
If something is attached to something larger or fixed to it, the two things are joined together.
There was a piece of cloth tied to the dog's collar.
Many patients prefer hand-held shower heads rather than those fixed to the wall.
Scrape off all the meat juices stuck to the bottom of the pan.
4. preposition
You use to when indicating the position of something. For example, if something is to your left, it is nearer your left side than your right side.
Hemingway's studio is to the right.
You will see the chapel on the hill to your left.
Atlanta was only an hour's drive to the north.
5. preposition
When you give something to someone, they receive it.
He picked up the knife and gave it to me.
Firms should be allowed to offer jobs to the long-term unemployed at a lower wage.
6. preposition
You use to to indicate who or what an action or a feeling is directed towards.
Marcus has been most unkind to me today.
...troops loyal to the government.
I have had to pay for repairs to the house.
7. preposition
You use to with certain nouns and adjectives to show that a following noun is related to them.
He is a witty man, and an inspiration to all of us.
Money is not the answer to everything.
She was very sympathetic to the problems of adult students.
8. preposition
If you say something to someone, you want that person to listen and understand what you are saying.
I'm going to have to explain to them that I can't pay them.
9. preposition
You use to when indicating someone's reaction to something or their feelings about a situation or event. For example, if you say that something happens to someone's surprise you mean that they are surprised when it happens.
To his surprise, the bedroom door was locked.
He survived, to the amazement of surgeons.
10. preposition
You use to when indicating the person whose opinion you are stating.
It was clear to me that he respected his boss.
Everyone seemed to her to be amazingly kind.
11. preposition
You use to when indicating what something or someone is becoming, or the state or situation that they are progressing towards.
The shouts changed to screams of terror.
...an old ranch house that has been converted to a nature centre.
...a return to active politics.
Charles has been promoted to general sales and marketing manager.
12. preposition
To can be used as a way of introducing the person or organization you are employed by, when you perform some service for them.
She worked as a dresser to the Duchess of York for nine years.
He was an official interpreter to the government of Nepal.
13. preposition
You use to to indicate that something happens until the time or amount mentioned is reached.
The shop is open 9-6 from Monday to Friday.
The company aimed to double foreign exports from 2012 to 2020
The annual rate of inflation has risen to its highest level for eight years.
14. preposition
You use to when indicating the last thing in a range of things, usually when you are giving two extreme examples of something.
I read everything from fiction to history.
...mechanical toys and gadgets, from typewriters to toy cars.
...new orders for everything from computers to trucks.
15. preposition
If someone goes from place to place or from job to job, they go to several places, or work in several jobs, and spend only a short time in each one.
Larry and Andy had drifted from place to place, worked at this and that.
16.
See to and fro
17. See also to-ing and fro-ing
18. preposition
You use to when you are stating a time which is less than thirty minutes before an hour. For example, if it is 'five to eight', it is five minutes before eight o'clock.
At twenty to six I was waiting by the entrance to the station.
At exactly five minutes to nine, Ann left her car and entered the building.
19. preposition
You use to when giving ratios and rates.
...engines that can run at 60 miles to the gallon.
...a mixture of one part milk to two parts water.
20. preposition
You use to when indicating that two things happen at the same time. For example, if somethingis done to music, it is done at the same time as music is being played.
Romeo left the stage, to enthusiastic applause.
Amy woke up to the sound of her doorbell ringing.
'I've got an idea,' said Edward to a chorus of groans.
21.
See there's nothing to it
22. adverb [ADVERB after verb]
If you push or shut a door to, you close it but may not shut it completely.
He slipped out, pulling the door to.
23. See also according to
English Easy Learning GrammarPrepositionsA preposition is one of a small but very common group of words that relate differentitems to each other. Most English prepositions have a number of meanings ... Read more
English Easy Learning GrammarThe forms of main verbsEnglish verbs have up to five different forms. These are: 1 the base form, e.g. pull 2 the 3rd person singular, present simple tense, e.g. pulls 3 the ... Read more
English Easy Learning GrammarThe to infinitiveThe to infinitive is used as follows: after an adjective of quality such as small, tall, agreeable, pleasant, funny thatis used in combination with too. The ... Read more
to used before the base form of a verb
pronunciation note: Pronounced (tə) before a consonant and (tu) before a vowel.
1. [to inf]
You use to before the base form of a verb to form the to-infinitive. You use the to-infinitive after certainverbs, nouns, and adjectives, and after words such as 'how', 'which', and 'where'.
The management wanted to know what I was doing there.
She told ministers of her decision to resign.
Trish was the first to see him.
Nuclear plants are expensive to build, though cheap to operate.
Darling! It's lovely to see you.
She did not take the judge's advice about how to do her job.
The Foreign Minister is to visit China.
2. [to inf]
You use to before the base form of a verb to indicate the purpose or intention of an action.
...using the experience of big companies to help small businesses.
He was doing this to make me more relaxed.
He is leaving tomorrow to play his first match.
...programs set up to save animals.
To help provide essential nourishment, we've put together these nutritious drinks.
3. to order
4. [to inf]
You use to before the base form of a verb when you are commenting on a statement that you are making, for example when saying that you are being honest or brief, or that you are summing up or giving an example.
I'm disappointed, to be honest.
Well, to sum up, what is the message that you are trying to get across?
5. [to inf]
You use to before the base form of a verb in exclamations when you are emphasizing a very strong emotion, such as a desire or wish, or a regret or disappointment.
[emphasis]
Oh, to think of his poor father, standing there helpless.
But then to be let down like that, oh it's so unfair!
6. [to inf]
You use to before the base form of a verb when indicating what situation follows a particular action.
He made his way to the kitchen to find Francis cooking.
From the garden you walk down to discover a large and beautiful lake.
He awoke to find Charlie standing near the bed.
7.
You use to with 'too' and 'enough' in expressions like too much to and old enough to.
At last he was old enough to drive.
to in British English1
(tuː, unstressed before a vowel tʊ, unstressed before a consonant tə)
preposition
1.
used to indicate the destination of the subject or object of an action
he climbed to the top
2.
used to mark the indirect object of a verb in a sentence
telling stories to children
3.
used to mark the infinitive of a verb
he wanted to go
4.
as far as; until
working from Monday to Friday
5.
used to indicate equality
16 ounces to the pound
6.
against; upon; onto
put your ear to the wall
7.
before the hour of
five minutes to four
8.
accompanied by
dancing to loud music
9.
as compared with, as against
the score was eight to three
10.
used to indicate a resulting condition
he tore her dress to shreds
they starved to death
11. a dialect word for at1
he's to town
where's it to?
adverb
12.
towards a fixed position, esp (of a door) closed
Word origin
Old English tō; related to Old Frisian, Old Saxon to, Old High German zuo, Latin do- as in dōnec until
to in British English2
the internet domain name for
Tonga
to in American English1
(tu)
preposition
1.
a.
in the direction of; toward
a turn to the left, traveling to Pittsburgh
b.
in the direction of and reaching
he went to Boston; it fell to the ground
2.
as far as; to the extent of
wet to the skin, starved to death
3.
a.
toward or into the condition of
to grow to manhood, a rise to fame
b.
so as to result in
sentenced to ten years in prison
4.
a.
on, onto, against, at, next to, etc.
used to indicate nearness or contact
applying lotion to the skin, a house to the right, cheek to cheek
b.
in a (specified) relation with
lines parallel to each other
c.
in front of
face to face
5.
a.
until
no parking from four to six
b.
before
at ten to six
6.
for the purpose of; for
come to dinner
7.
a.
as concerns; with respect to; involving
that's all there is to it; to leave oneself open to attack
b.
in the opinion of
it seems good to me
8.
producing, causing, or resulting in
to his amazement, torn to pieces
9.
along with; accompanied by; as an accompaniment for
add this to the others; dance to the music
10.
being the proper appurtenance, possession, or attribute of; of
the key to the house
11.
as compared with; as against
a score of 7 to 1, superior to the others
12.
a.
in agreement, correspondence, or conformity with
not to her taste
b.
as a reaction, or in response, toward
the dog came to his whistle
13.
constituting; in or for (each)
four quarts to a gallon
14.
as far as the limit of
moderate to high in price
15.
with (a specified person or thing) as the recipient of the verb: an indicator of the indirect object of the action
listen to him; give the book to her
16.
in honor of
a toast to your success
17.
by: used in some passive constructions
a person known to me
18.
at or in (a specified place) [to have someone to the house for dinner]
often a dial. usage [he's to home]
19. Dialectal
with (a specified crop)
a field planted to corn
adverb
20.
forward
his hat is on wrong side to
21.
in the normal or desired direction, position, or condition; esp., shut or closed
the door was blown to
22.
into a state of consciousness
the boxer came to
23.
at hand
we were close to when it happened
Idioms:
to and fro
Word origin
ME < OE, akin to Ger zu < IE *-dō-, up toward > L (quan)do, when, then, do(nec), until
to in American English2
turnover
to- in American English
(tu; tʊ; tə)
Obsolete
completely, entirely, severely
used with verbs as an intensive
“to-broken” means “broken to pieces”
Word origin
ME < OE, akin to Ger zer-, L dis-: see di-1
Examples of 'to' in a sentence
to
Then again, not to do him down too much, he does have his more positive side.
Hugo Wilcken THE EXECUTION (2002)
Then I went with Christian to the Italian sandwich bar on the corner.
Hugo Wilcken THE EXECUTION (2002)
Finally she interrupted to ask which one of us was Mr Tedeschi.
Hugo Wilcken THE EXECUTION (2002)
It was my reluctance; trying to build a practice, I had postponed the decision.
Lisa Scottoline RUNNING FROM THE LAW (2001)
I didn't mean to- " "Don't be a goose," Willow interrupted quickly.
Elizabeth Lowell ONLY YOU (1992)
Word lists with
to
international car registration letters, internet
In other languages
to
British English: to /tuː; tʊ; tə/ PREPOSITION
You use to when you are talking about the position or direction of something.
She went to the window and looked out.
American English: to
Arabic: إِلَى
Brazilian Portuguese: para
Chinese: 到
Croatian: prema
Czech: do
Danish: til
Dutch: naar
European Spanish: a destino
Finnish: NO TRANSLATION
French: pour
German: zu
Greek: προς
Italian: a
Japanese: ･･･に
Korean: ...으로 방향
Norwegian: til
Polish: do o przestrzeni
European Portuguese: para
Romanian: laindică destinația
Russian: к
Latin American Spanish: a
Swedish: till inte från
Thai: ไปถึง
Turkish: oraya, orada
Ukrainian: до
Vietnamese: tới
British English: to /tuː; tʊ; tə/ PARTICLE
You use to before the infinitive, the simple form of a verb.
It was time to leave.
American English: to
Arabic: لِ
Brazilian Portuguese: de
Chinese: 用于动词不定式之前
Croatian: za
Czech: kčástice označující infinitiv
Danish: at
Dutch: te
European Spanish: partícula de infinitivo
Finnish: infinitiivin partikkeli,
French: infinitif
German: zu
Greek: να
Italian: di
Japanese: 不定詞の前に用いられる
Korean: 부정사용법
Norwegian: å
Polish: nie tłumaczy się na język polski
European Portuguese: de
Romanian: aparticulă a infinitivului
Russian: (признак неопределенной формы глагола)
Latin American Spanish: (forma infinitva de los verbos)
Swedish: att
Thai: ที่จะ
Turkish: n/a
Ukrainian: вказує на неозначену форму дієслова
Vietnamese: dùng để đứng trước một động từ chưa chia
All related terms of 'to'
bento
a thin box , made of plastic or lacquered wood, divided into compartments which contain small separate dishes comprising a Japanese meal , esp lunch
as to
with reference to
go to
to be awarded to
Iō-tō
an island in the W Pacific , about 1100 km (700 miles) south of Japan : one of the Volcano Islands; scene of prolonged fighting between US and Japanese forces until taken by the US in 1945; returned to Japan in 1968. Area: 20 sq km (8 sq miles)
on to
aware of or familiar with, esp. aware of the real nature or meaning of
to-do
When there is a to-do , people are very excited , confused , or angry about something.
to go
If you say that there are a particular number of things to go , you mean that they still remain to be dealt with.
up to
devising or scheming ; occupied with
cop to
If you cop to something bad or wrong that you have done, you admit that you have done it.
due to
attributable to or caused by
get to
to succeed in reaching or communicating with
how-to
(of a book or guide ) giving basic instructions to the lay person on how to do or make something, esp as a hobby or for practical purposes
lay to
to bring a vessel into a haven
lie to
(of a vessel) to be hove to with little or no swinging
out to
making a determined effort to
run to
If you run to someone, you go to them for help or to tell them something.
see to
If you see to something that needs attention , you deal with it.
set to
A set-to is a dispute or fight.
-to-be
about to be; future
to God
You can use God in expressions such as I hope to God , or I wish to God , or I swear to God , in order to emphasize what you are saying .
to wit
To wit is used to indicate that you are about to state or describe something more precisely .
A to J
Appendices to Journals (of the House of Representatives or Parliament)
A to Z
An A to Z is a book of maps showing all the streets and roads in a particular city and its surrounding towns .
come to
When someone who is unconscious comes to , they recover consciousness.
down to
the responsibility or fault of
fall to
If a responsibility , duty , or opportunity falls to someone, it becomes their responsibility, duty, or opportunity.
hang to
to hold or clutch tenaciously
keep to
If you keep to a rule , plan , or agreement , you do exactly what you are expected or supposed to do.
lean-to
A lean-to is a building such as a shed or garage which is attached to one wall of a larger building, and which usually has a sloping roof.
like to
nearly ; almost
look to
If you look to someone or something for a particular thing that you want , you expect or hope that they will provide it.
lost to
no longer in the possession or enjoyment of
near to
not far from; near
next to
If one thing is next to another thing, it is at the other side of it.
open to
glad or willing to receive, discuss , etc.
rise to
to respond adequately to (the demands of something, esp a testing challenge )
take to
If you take to someone or something, you like them, especially after knowing them or thinking about them for only a short time.
to a T
You can use to a T or to a tee to mean perfectly or exactly right . For example , if something suits you to a T , it suits you perfectly. If you have got an activity or a skill down to a T , you have succeeded in doing it exactly right.
to bits
If something is smashed or blown to bits , it is broken into a number of pieces. If something falls to bits , it comes apart so that it is in a number of pieces.
to boot
You can say to boot to emphasize that you have added something else to something or to a list of things that you have just said .
to burn
in excess
to come
When you refer to a time or an event to come or one that is still to come , you are referring to a future time or event.
to date
To date means up until the present time.
to hand
If you have something to hand or near to hand , you have it with you or near you, ready to use when needed .
to heel
disciplined or under control , as a dog walking by a person's heel
to kill
to make a strongly desirable impression
to-name
a nickname used to distinguish one person from others of the same name
turn to
to set about a task
used to
made familiar with; accustomed to
about to
on the point of; intending to
Chinese translation of 'to'
to
(tuː; tə)
prep
(direction) 到 (dào)
to France/London/school/the station去法国(國)/伦(倫)敦/学(學)校/车(車)站 (qù Fǎguó/Lúndūn/xuéxiào/chēzhàn)
we went to a party last night我们(們)昨晚去参(參)加了一个(個)聚会(會) (wǒmen zuó wǎn qù cānjiāle yī gè jùhuì)
the road to Manchester通往曼彻(徹)斯特的路 (tōngwǎng Mànchèsītè de lù)
(= as far as)
from here to London从(從)这(這)儿(兒)到伦(倫)敦 (cóng zhèr dào Lúndūn)
to count to ten数(數)到10 (shǔdào shí)
(position) 向 (xiàng)
to the north/south朝北/南 (cháo běi/nán)
to the left/right向左/右 (xiàng zuǒ/yòu)
nailed/stuck to the wall钉(釘)/粘在墙(牆)上 (dìng/zhān zài qiáng shang)
the key to the front door前门(門)的钥(鑰)匙 (qiánmén de yàoshi)
a letter to his wife给(給)他妻子的一封信 (gěi tā qīzi de yī fēng xìn)
she is secretary to the director她是主管的秘书(書) (tā shì zhǔguǎn de mìshū)
(indirect object)
to give sth to sb给(給)某人某物 (gěi mǒurén mǒuwù)
to talk to sb对(對)某人说(說) (duì mǒurén shuō)
I sold it to a friend我把它卖(賣)给(給)了一个(個)朋友 (wǒ bǎ tā màigěile yī gè péngyou)
you've done something to your hair你打理了你的头(頭)发(髮) (nǐ dǎlǐle nǐ de tóufa)
it was clear to me that ... 对(對)我来(來)说(說)这(這)显(顯)而易见(見) ... (duì wǒ lái shuō zhè xiǎn ér yì jiàn ... )
(after noun, = involving)
damage to sth对(對)某物的损(損)害 (duì mǒuwù de sǔnhài)
a danger to sb对(對)某人的危险(險) (duì mǒurén de wēixiǎn)
repairs to sth对(對)某物的修理 (duì mǒuwù de xiūlǐ)
(= towards)
to be friendly/kind/loyal to sb对(對)某人友好/仁慈/忠实(實) (duì mǒurén yǒuhǎo/réncí/zhōngshí)
(= in relation to)
30 miles to the gallon每加仑(侖)可行30英里 (mēi jiālún kě xíng sānshí yīnglǐ)
A is to B as C is to DA与(與)B的关(關)系(係)就像C与(與)D的关(關)系(係) (A yǔ B de guānxì jiù xiàng C yǔ D de guānxì)
three goals to two3比2 (sān bǐ èr)
(purpose, result)
to come to sb's aid来(來)帮(幫)某人的忙 (lái bāng mǒurén de máng)
to sentence sb to death判某人死刑 (pàn mǒurén sǐxíng)
(indicating range, extent)
from ... to ... 从(從) ... 到 ... (cóng ... dào ... )
everything from seeds to vegetables从(從)种(種)子到蔬菜的每样(樣)东(東)西 (cóng zhǒngzi dào shūcài de měi yàng dōngxi)
from May to September从(從)5月到9月 (cóng wǔyuè dào jiǔyuè)
(= with)
to enter to the sound of drums随(隨)着(著)鼓声(聲)进(進)入 (suízhe gǔshēng jìnrù)
prep
(with verb)
(simple infinitive) 与原形动词一起构成动词不定式
to go/eat走/吃 (zǒu/chī)
to want/to try to do sth想/试(試)着(著)做某事 (xiǎng/shìzhe zuò mǒushì)
(with vb omitted) 用来代替动词不定式或不定式短语，避免重复
I don't want to我不想 (wǒ bù xiǎng)
you ought to你应(應)该(該) (nǐ yīnggāi)
(= in order to) 为(為)了 (wèile)
I did it to help you我这(這)么(麼)做是为(為)了帮你 (wǒ zhème zuò shì wèile bāng nǐ)
measures to help developing nations用以帮助发(發)展中国(國)家的措施 (yòng yǐ bāngzhù fāzhǎnzhōng guójiā de cuòshī)
(equivalent to relative clause) 用作定语
I have things to do我有事要做 (wǒ yǒu shì yào zuò)
he has a lot to lose他要失去很多 (tā yào shīqù hěn duō)
(after adjective etc) 用于某些动词、名词、形容词后构成不定式
to be ready to go准(準)备(備)走 (zhǔnbèi zǒu)
it's great to see you见(見)到你太好了 (jiàndào nǐ tài hǎo le)
too old/young to do sth年纪(紀)太大/太小以至于(於)不能做某事 (niánjì tài dà/tài xiǎo yǐzhì yú bùnéng zuò mǒushì)
it's too heavy to lift它太重了根本提不动(動) (tā tài zhòng le gēnběn tí bù dòng)
to be old/young enough to do sth到了做某事的年龄(齡)/足够(夠)年轻(輕)做某事 (dàole zuò mǒushì de niánlíng/zúgòu niánqīng zuò mǒushì)
(= and)
he awoke/arrived to find that everyone had gone他醒来(來)/到了发(發)现(現)大家都走了 (tā xǐnglái/dàole fāxiàn dàjiā dōu zǒu le)
adv
to push/pull the door to把门(門)掩上 (bǎ mén yǎnshàng)
to and fro来(來)来(來)回回地 (láilái huíhuí de)
All related terms of 'to'
up to
( as far as ) 直到 zhídào
akin to
( similar to ) 相似的 xiāngsì de
come to
( regain consciousness ) 苏(甦)醒 sūxǐng
fall to
▶ to fall to sb to do sth ( responsibility ) 做某事的责(責)任落在某人身上 zuò mǒushì de zérèn luòzài mǒurén shēnshang
keep to
( observe : agreement ) 遵守 zūnshǒu
lead to
( result in ) 导(導)致 dǎozhì
look to
▶ to look to sb for sth/to do sth 指望某人提供某事/做某事 zhǐwàng mǒurén tígōng mǒushì/zuò mǒushì
next to
( beside ) 旁边(邊) pángbiān
see to
( deal with ) 处(處)理 chǔlǐ ⇒ Franklin saw to the luggage. → 福兰克林负责照管行李。 Fúlánkèlín fùzé zhàoguǎn xíngli.
take to
( like ) 喜欢(歡)上 xǐhuan shang ⇒ I immediately took to Alan. → 我立刻喜欢上了艾伦。 Wǒ lìkè xǐhuan shang le Àilún.
to date
( until now ) 迄今 qìjīn
to port
( Naut ) 向左舷 xiàng zuǒxián
turn to
( page ) 翻到 fāndào
to add to
( increase ) 增加 zēngjiā ⇒ This all adds to the cost. → 这都增加了成本。 Zhè dōu zēngjiāle chéngběn.
to bow to
( pressure, sb's wishes ) 服从(從) fúcóng
"to let"
"现(現)房待租" "xiànfáng dàizū"
admit to
( confess : murder etc ) 承认(認) chéngrèn
alive to
意识(識)到 yìshi dào
close to
( near ) 近 jìn ⇒ The museum is quite close to the port. → 博物馆距离港口相当近。 Bówùguǎn jùlí gǎngkǒu xiāngdāng jìn.
drink to
为(為) ... 干(乾)杯 wèi ... gānbēi
heave to
( Naut ) 停航 tíngháng
owing to
( because of ) 因为(為) yīnwèi
point to
暗示 ànshì
refer to
( mention ) 提到 tídào
stick to
( one's word, agreement ) 信守 xìnshǒu
title to
所有权(權) suǒyǒuquán
to scale
按比例 àn bǐlì
adhere to
( frm : stick to ) 粘附 niánfù
allied to
与(與) ... 相关(關)的 yǔ ... xiāngguān de
answer to
( description ) 符合 fúhé ⇒ A man answering to his description was seen in Glasgow. → 一个和他的描述相符的男人出现在格拉斯哥。 Yī gè hé tā de miáoshù xiāngfú de nánrén chūxiàn zài Gélāsīgē.
attend to
( needs, affairs ) 处(處)理 chǔlǐ
common to
常见(見)于(於) chángjiàn yú
immune to
( disease ) 对(對) ... 有免疫力 duì ... yǒu miǎnyìlì
return to
( consciousness, power ) 恢复(復) huīfù
to embark
登上 dēngshàng
to meddle
干预(預) gānyù
tumble to
▶ he tumbled to the fact that ... 他突然明白事实(實)是 ... tā tūrán míngbai shìshí shì ...
to come to
( reach ) 到达(達) dàodá
... to boot
( in addition ) 再者 ... zàizhě ...
add up to
( amount to ) 合计(計)达(達) héjì dá
adjacent to
邻(鄰)近 línjìn
due to ...
( because of ) 由于(於) ... yóuyú ...
foreign to
对(對) ... 陌生 duì ... mòshēng
get on to
( subject, topic ) 开(開)始涉及 kāishǐ shèjí
get up to
( prank etc ) 搞 gǎo ⇒ What has he been getting up to? → 他在搞什么花样？ Tā zài gǎo shénme huāyàng?