to
0 antonyms and opposites of to, grouped by meaning.
Particle — Used before a verb to form the infinitive.
Etymology
From Old English tō, going back to a Proto-Germanic root meaning "to" — a very old, core function word with cognates across most Germanic languages.
Full origin of to →Frequently asked questions
What does “to” mean?
The word “to” means used before a verb to form the infinitive. In plain terms, one of English's most basic words, showing direction, purpose, or a limit — used constantly with verbs, places, and outcomes.
How do you pronounce “to”?
“To” is pronounced too ([tʰu̟(ː)] in IPA).
How do you use “to” in a sentence?
Here is “to” used in a sentence: “She wants to travel next summer.”
What part of speech is “to”?
Depending on how it is used, “to” can be a particle, a preposition and a conjunction.
Where does the word “to” come from?
The word “to” comes from Old English. From Old English tō, going back to a Proto-Germanic root meaning "to" — a very old, core function word with cognates across most Germanic languages.
Is “to” a common word?
“To” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “to” have?
“To” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: used before a verb to form the infinitive.
What is the difference between "to" and "too"?
"To" is a preposition or infinitive marker ("go to school", "to run"), while "too" is an adverb meaning "also" or "more than enough" ("me too", "too hot"). If you can replace the word with "also" or "excessively", the correct spelling is "too."
What is the difference between "to" and "for"?
"To" usually marks a destination or the receiver of an action: "send it to me", "drive to London." "For" marks purpose, benefit, or intended use: "a gift for you", "tools for cutting." With verbs, purpose is normally expressed with "to" plus an infinitive ("I called to apologize"), not with "for."
When is "to" followed by an -ing form instead of a base verb?
When "to" is part of the infinitive, it takes the base verb: "I want to go." But when "to" is a preposition inside a fixed expression such as "look forward to", "be used to", or "object to", it is followed by a noun or an -ing form: "I look forward to seeing you."
Is it wrong to split an infinitive, as in "to boldly go"?
No. Placing an adverb between "to" and its verb is fully accepted in modern English, and major style guides permit it. Rewording is only worthwhile when the split version sounds awkward or unclear.