onto
|on-to|
B1
🇺🇸
/ˈɑːn.tuː/
🇬🇧
/ˈɒn.tuː/
movement towards a surface
Etymology
Etymology Information
'onto' originates from the combination of 'on' and 'to', where 'on' meant 'position on a surface' and 'to' indicated 'direction'.
Historical Evolution
'onto' evolved from the Old English 'on' and 'to', eventually becoming the modern English word 'onto'.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'movement towards a surface', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Preposition 1
used to indicate movement towards a surface or position on a surface.
The cat jumped onto the table.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Preposition 2
used to indicate awareness or knowledge of something.
She is onto his tricks.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:35