to
preposition /tə/, before vowels /tu/, strong form /tuː/
/tə/, before vowels /tu/, strong form /tuː/
For the special uses of to in phrasal verbs, look at the entries for the verbs. For example see to something is in the phrasal verb section at see.- in the direction of something; towards something
- I walked to the office.
- It fell to the ground.
- It was on the way to the station.
- He's going to Paris.
- my first visit to Africa
- He pointed to something on the opposite bank.
- Her childhood was spent travelling from place to place.
- as far as something
- The meadows lead down to the river.
- Her hair fell to her waist.
- to the something (of something) located in the direction mentioned from something
- Place the cursor to the left of the first word.
- There are mountains to the north.
- used to show the person or thing that receives something
- He gave it to his sister.
- I'll explain to you where everything goes.
- I am deeply grateful to my parents.
- Who did she address the letter to?
- (formal) To whom did she address the letter?
- used to show the end or limit of a range or period of time
- a drop in profits from $105 million to around $75 million
- I'd say he was 25 to 30 years old (= approximately 25 or 30 years old).
- I like all kinds of music from opera to reggae.
- We only work from Monday to Friday.
- I watched the programme from beginning to end.
- before the start of something
- How long is it to lunch?
- (especially British English) It's five to ten (= five minutes before ten o'clock).
- reaching a particular state
- The vegetables were cooked to perfection.
- He tore the letter to pieces.
- She sang the baby to sleep.
- The letter reduced her to tears (= made her cry).
- His expression changed from amazement to joy.
- used to show the person or thing that is affected by an action
- She is devoted to her family.
- What have you done to your hair?
- used to show that two things are attached or connected
- Attach this rope to the front of the car.
- used to show a relationship between one person or thing and another
- She's married to an Italian.
- the Japanese ambassador to France
- the key to the door
- the solution to this problem
- directed towards; in connection with
- It was a threat to world peace.
- She made a reference to her recent book.
- used to introduce the second part of a comparison or ratio
- I prefer walking to climbing.
- The industry today is nothing to what it once was.
- We won by six goals to three.
- used to show a quantity or rate
- There are 2.54 centimetres to an inch.
- This car does 30 miles to the gallon.
- in honour of somebody/something
- a monument to the soldiers who died in the war
- Let's drink to Julia and her new job.
- used to show somebody’s attitude or reaction to something
- His music isn't really to my taste.
- To her astonishment, he smiled.
- used to show what somebody’s opinion or feeling about something is
- It sounded like crying to me.
- while something else is happening or being done
- He left the stage to prolonged applause.
- used after verbs of movement to mean ‘with the intention of giving something’
- People rushed to her rescue and picked her up.
Word OriginOld English tō (adverb and preposition), of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch toe and German zu.