What does "to" mean?
Initialism of time-out.
To
/tuː/ adv, conj, name, noun, particle, prep, slang
adv, conj, name, noun, particle, prep, slang ·Very common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Initialism of time-out.
- Grammar: to is listed as adv, conj, name, noun, particle, prep, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: adjective of behavior, against, all the way, allocates water for industry.
- Useful contrasts: kinetic energy from gravity, fro, a lot of homework.
- Usage evidence: It's because you don't want to be alone.
How to use "to"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "to" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "to" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "to" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "to" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "to" is acting as adv, conj, name, noun, particle, prep, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "adjective of behavior" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "to", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Initialism of time-out. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
- 2 Initialism of turnover. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
Adverb
- 1 Toward a closed, touching, or engaging position. UK, US, not-comparable, regional
"Please push the door to."
- 2 Into the wind. not-comparable
- 3 Misspelling of too. alt-of, misspelling, not-comparable
Particle
- 1 A particle used for marking the following verb as an infinitive.
"I want to leave."
- 2 A filler word common amongst urban Indians. India, North, colloquial
"I am to so bored right now."
- 3 As above, with the verb implied.
""Did you visit the museum?" "I wanted to, but it was closed.""
- 4 Used to indicate an obligation on the part of, or a directive given to, the subject.
"You are to go to the store and buy a bottle of milk."
Conjunction
- 1 In order to.
"I went to the shops to buy some bread."
Preposition
- 1 In the direction of; towards.
"She looked to the heavens."
- 2 Indicating destination or final position: In the direction of, so as to arrive at or reach.
"We are walking to the shop."
- 3 Used to indicate the target or recipient of an action.
"I gave the book to him."
- 4 So as to contact, press against, impact, etc.
"I fixed the notice to the wall."
- 5 So as to become or reach: indicating a terminal state resulting from an action.
"His face was beaten to a pulp."
Show 13 more definitions
- 6 So as to bring about or elicit (an effect or outcome).
"He made several bad-taste jokes to groans from the audience."
- 7 Used after an adjective to indicate its application.
"similar to ..., relevant to ..., pertinent to ..., I was nice to him, he was cruel to her, I am used to walking."
- 8 Indicating a degree or level reached.
"It was to a large extent true."
- 9 Used to describe what something consists of or contains.
"Anyone could do this job; there's nothing to it."
- 10 Denotes the end of a range.
"It takes 2 to 4 weeks to process typical applications."
- 11 As a. obsolete
"With God to friend (with God as a friend); with The Devil to fiend (with the Devil as a foe); lambs slaughtered to lake (lambs slaughtered as a sacrifice); took her to wife (took her as a wife); was sold to slave (was sold as a slave)."
- 12 Used to indicate a ratio or comparison; compared to, as against.
"one to one = 1:1"
- 13 Used to indicate that the preceding term is to be raised to the power of the following value; indicates exponentiation.
"Three squared or three to the second power is nine."
- 14 Preceding (the stated hour).
"What's the time? – It's quarter to four in the afternoon (or 3:45 pm)."
- 15 Preceding (the stated hour).; With implied hour. informal
"It’s quarter to (3:45, or 4:45, or whatever time ending in 45 would make the most sense)"
- 16 According to.
"Our holiday did not go to plan."
- 17 At. Canada, Newfoundland, Wales
"Stay where you're to and I'll come find you, b'y."
- 18 Used more-or-less idiomatically with various verbs: keep to the left, agree to the proposal, attend to the matter, etc. See the individual entries.
Proper Noun
- 1 Abbreviation of Toronto: the largest city in Ontario and in Canada. abbreviation, alt-of, informal
- 2 A surname.
- 3 Abbreviation of Tocantins: a state of Brazil. abbreviation, alt-of
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"It's because you don't want to be alone."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "to"?
Common synonyms include: adjective of behavior, against, all the way, allocates water for industry, american war for independence, among.
How do you use "to" in a sentence?
It's because you don't want to be alone.
How do you pronounce "to"?
Pronounced /tuː/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English to, from Old English tō, from Proto-Germanic *tō ~ *ta, from Proto-Indo-European *de ~ *do (“to”). Cognate with Scots tae, to (“to”), North Frisian to, tö, tu (“to”), Saterland Frisian tou (“to”), Low German to (“to”), Dutch toe, te (“to”), German zu (“to”), West Frisian ta (“to”). Non-Germanic cognates include Albanian ndaj (“towards”), Irish do (“to, for”), Breton da (“to, for”), Welsh i (“to, for”), Russian до (do, “to”). Doublet of too.
Etymology 2
Borrowed from Hindi तो (to).
Etymology 3
Borrowed from Cantonese 杜 (dou6), 陶 (tou4), 塗／涂 (tou4), 屠 (tou4), etc.
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