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to

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¹ to /ˈtuː/ /tə/ preposition

¹ to

/ˈtuː/ /tə/

preposition

Britannica Dictionary definition of TO

— used to indicate that the following verb is in the infinitive form

I like to swim.
“To be, or not to be—that is the question…”
Shakespeare, Hamlet (1600)
That's a tough question to answer.
I have an appointment to keep.
The soup is too hot to eat.
Do you need to use this?
I have to go now.
To look at him, you'd never think he was 80!
I didn't really like the movie, to be honest.

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— often used by itself in place of an infinitive verb when the verb is understood

You can go if you want to. [=you can go if you want to go]
“You left the door unlocked.” “I didn't mean to.”

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a — used to indicate the place, person, or thing that someone or something moves toward

We are flying to London tomorrow.
They climbed to the top of the mountain.
I sent the e-mail to the wrong address.
He was sent to the principal.
The little girl ran to her mother.

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b — used to indicate the place where someone participates in a particular activity

Where do you go to school?
She wore her new red dress to the party.
We went to lunch together.
This is the child's first visit to the dentist.

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— used to indicate the direction of something

There is a lake a mile to the south of here.
She had her back to me. [=her back was facing me]

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— used to indicate the limit or range of something

The water was up to my waist.
The temperature outside rose to 100 degrees.
The word dates (back) to 1639.
The show's audience is mainly men from 18 to 30 years of age.
The band plays all kinds of music from country to hard rock.
The shirt is a light to medium pink.
The wines we tasted ranged from very poor to good to excellent.
To my knowledge, she has never visited Paris. [=I do not know of any time when she visited Paris]
I'll do it to the best of my ability. [=as well as I can]

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a — used to indicate a particular result or end

The school was converted to an apartment building.
The vase was smashed to pieces.
The promotion increased her salary to $50,000.
He was sentenced to death.
To their surprise, the train left on time.
A firefighter came to her rescue. [=a firefighter rescued her]
It's 100 miles (from here) to the nearest town.

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b : according to (something)

The wedding gown was made to her specifications. [=was made in the way that she specified]
Add salt to taste. [=add as much salt as you want according to your taste]

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a — used to indicate the end of a particular period of time

He works from nine to [=until, till] five.
Up to now, no one has beaten the record.
The movie keeps your attention from beginning to end.

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b : before the start of (something, such as an hour or event)

It is ten to six. [=it is 10 minutes before 6 o'clock]
She arrived at a quarter to five.
I can't believe there are only five days to the wedding.
How long to kickoff?

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a — used to indicate the person or thing that receives an object or action

Give the letter to me. [=give me the letter]
The teacher spoke to his parents.
She showed a picture of her kids to me.
Refer to the dictionary.
Let me introduce you to my sister.
She was very rude to [=toward] him.
“He's smart,” she thought to herself.

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b : in honor of (someone or something)

Let us drink to the bride and groom.
The people built temples to their gods.
The book is dedicated to her husband and children.

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a — used to indicate how people or things are related, connected, etc.

She is married to my cousin.
He is related to me.
He is the assistant to the dean.
You have always been a good friend to me.
I can't find the key (that goes) to this door.
He owns the title to the property.

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b : in response to (something)

There wasn't much I could say to that.
The answer to your question is no.
What would you say to a drink? [=would you like a drink?]
Her dog comes to her call. [=comes when she calls]

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— used to indicate the thing that causes something to happen

She lost her mother to cancer. [=her mother died of cancer]

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— used when one person or thing is being compared to another

He prefers a good book to a movie.
I have a pair of shoes similar to those.
His followers compared/likened him to a god.
This problem is nothing to [=is nothing when compared to] the ones we previously had.
We won the game ten to six. [=we won the game because we had ten points while the other team had only six]
Their odds of winning are ten to one.