To Word Meaning

Old English tō (adverb and preposition), of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch toe and German zu

expressing motion in the direction of (a particular location)

expressing motion in direction of

• walking down to the shops
• my first visit to Africa
• we're going to a party

approaching or reaching (a particular condition)

approaching or reaching

• Christopher's expression changed from amazement to joy
• she was close to tears

identifying the person or thing affected by or receiving something

identifying person or thing affected by or receiving something

• you were terribly unkind to her
• they donated £400 to the hospice
• I am deeply grateful to my parents

identifying a particular relationship between one person and another

identifying particular relationship between one person and another

• he is married to his cousin Emma
• she is senior advisor to the chief executive officer

indicating that two things are attached or linked

indicating that two things are attached or linked

• he had left his dog tied to a drainpipe
• they are inextricably linked to this island

concerning or likely to concern (something)

concerning or likely to concern

• a threat to world peace
• a reference to Psalm 22:18

used to introduce the second element in a comparison

used to introduce second element in comparison

• the club's nothing to what it once was

placed before a debit entry in accounting.

placed before debit entry in accounting

used with the base form of a verb to indicate that the verb is in the infinitive.

used with base form of verb to indicate that verb is in infinitive

used without a verb following when the missing verb is clearly understood

used without verb following when missing verb is clearly understood

• he asked her to come but she said she didn't want to

so as to be closed or nearly closed

so as to be closed or nearly closed

• he pulled the door to behind him