to · prep
to (RANGE)
B2 used in phrases which show a range
Dictionary examples:
There must have been thirty to thirty-five people there. (19.1)
to date ()
B2 up to the present time
Dictionary examples:
This is her best work to date. (13.8)
to my mind
B2 used to emphasize that you are giving your own opinion
Dictionary examples:
The play, to my mind, was disappointing. (24.8)
to cap it off
C1 used when you mention something in addition to all the other bad or disappointing things that have happened
Dictionary examples:
It's been a terrible week and now, to cap it off, the car has broken down. (52.3)
to the contrary
C1 saying or showing the opposite
Dictionary examples:
She claimed she hadn't been involved, despite evidence to the contrary. (53.0)
to spare
C1 If you have time, money, etc. to spare, you have more than you need.
Dictionary examples:
I arrived at the station with more than an hour to spare. (49.1)
to sb's disappointment/relief/surprise, etc.
C2 used to say that someone feels disappointed/relieved/surprised, etc., by something
Dictionary examples:
To my surprise, she decided against going. (31.7)
to death
C2 until you die
Dictionary examples:
Fire ants stung a woman to death. (81.2)
to all intents and purposes
C2 in all the most important ways
Dictionary examples:
To all intents and purposes, the project was a disaster. (54.7)
to sb's credit
C2 If something is to someone's credit, they deserve praise for it.
Dictionary examples:
To his credit, Bill never blamed her for the incident. (39.7)
to sb's satisfaction
C2 as well as someone wants
Dictionary examples:
He won't get paid until he completes the job to my satisfaction. (40.3)
to (PLACE)
A1 used to talk about a place or an event where someone goes
Dictionary examples:
We crawl to the party for fun. (0.0)
We run to school on our hands. (0.0)
I go to bed with my shoes. (0.0)
We went to California last year. (8.8)
We could go to town on the bus. (11.2)
I've asked Helen and Ben to dinner next week. (11.6)
I have to go to the dentist this morning. (12.5)
She walked over to the window. (13.4)
You can walk from here to the station in under ten minutes. (18.5)
He went up to a complete stranger and started talking. (25.4)
We received another invitation to a wedding this morning. (35.3)
to (TELLING THE TIME)
A1 used to say "before" the hour when you are saying what time it is
Dictionary examples:
Eight to eight? Don't be late! (0.0)
It's one to one. Lunch time! (0.0)
Nine to nine? Time to shine! (0.0)
It's five to three. (4.2)
to (RECEIVING)
A2 used to show who receives something or experiences an action
Dictionary examples:
I accidentally sent my diary to the whole school. (0.0)
I accidentally texted my shopping list to my boss. (0.0)
I sent a pizza to my ex-boyfriend by mistake! (0.0)
I gave the money to my sister. (7.2)
Give the gun to me. (13.5)
Anna was speaking to her mother on the phone. (15.3)
I lent my bike to my brother. (27.6)
Who's the letter addressed to? (32.0)
to (AFFECTED)
B1 used to say who is treated in a particular way or who or what is affected by something
Dictionary examples:
What happened to your homework? Did the dog eat it again? (0.0)
My alarm clock is not very kind to me in the mornings. (0.0)
My computer was very rude to me today. It kept giving me the blue screen! (0.0)
She was very kind to us. (15.1)
What have you done to your hair? (15.7)
Her evidence was very helpful to the police. (37.1)
to (COMPARE)
B1 used to compare two things
Dictionary examples:
My bank account compared to Bill Gates' is like a puddle to an ocean. (0.0)
My cooking skills compared to Gordon Ramsay's are like a candle to the sun. (0.0)
My math skills compared to Einstein's are like a calculator to a supercomputer. (0.0)
I prefer football to basketball. (10.3)
She's earning a reasonable wage, but nothing to what she could make in a big company. (32.8)
to (CONNECTED)
B1 used to say where something is fastened or connected
Dictionary examples:
The man's tie got stuck to the office printer again. (0.0)
The student's face was glued to his phone during the entire class. (0.0)
The boy's hand was accidentally superglued to his PlayStation controller. (0.0)
A high-speed rail service connects us to the city. (45.4)
The paper was fastened to the wall with tape. (59.0)
to (POSITION)
B1 used to show the position of someone or something
Dictionary examples:
The boss's office is to the left of the coffee machine. Coincidence? (0.0)
My phone always falls to the floor when I need it most. (0.0)
The student's eyes darted to the clock, willing it to move faster. (0.0)
She stood with her back to the window. (12.7)
I had my back to them, so I couldn't see what they were doing. (19.6)
The national park is twenty miles to the north of the city. (25.9)
John's standing to the left of Adrian in the photo. (27.4)
to (RELATIONSHIP)
B1 used to show a relationship with someone
Dictionary examples:
I'm allergic to my boss, but I'm addicted to the paycheck. (0.0)
My coffee maker is a best friend to me every morning. (0.0)
I'm married to my job, but I'm having an affair with sleep. (0.0)
I've been married to Peter for nine years. (16.0)
She was an assistant to the chief executive. (43.5)
to (UNTIL)
B1 until a particular time, state or level is reached
Dictionary examples:
He watched funny videos to his belly hurt from laughing. (0.0)
She saved money to her piggy bank exploded with coins! (0.0)
He studied English to his brain turned into a dictionary. (0.0)
It's only two weeks to Christmas. (7.3)
Unemployment has risen to almost eight million. (22.3)
She nursed me back to health. (39.6)
from ... to ...
A2 used to give information about periods of time
Dictionary examples:
I study English from Monday to Funday. It's awesome! (0.0)
I sleep from noon to noon. My boss hates it! (0.0)
The library is open from A to Z. Read everything! (0.0)
The museum is open from Tuesday to Saturday. (8.6)