# to

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/to
Updated: 2026-07-09

## Senses

### 1. direction or destination

preposition · CEFR A1

in the direction of a place or person.

For teachers: indicating a destination, direction, or final position in space.

- We walked to the park to see the ducks.
- The commuters hurried to the station, hoping to catch the express train before the platform gates closed for the evening.

### 2. recipient

preposition · CEFR A1

the person or thing that receives something.

For teachers: indicating the indirect object or the recipient of an action or item.

- I gave the book to my sister for her birthday.
- The manager explained the new safety protocols to the staff during the morning briefing.

### 3. time or range

preposition · CEFR A1

used to show the end of a period of time or a range of numbers.

For teachers: denoting the terminal point of a temporal or numerical range.

- The shop is open from nine to five every day.
- The temperature is expected to fluctuate between fifteen to twenty degrees throughout the weekend.

### 4. telling time

preposition · CEFR A1

used to say how many minutes there are before the next hour.

For teachers: preceding a stated hour to indicate the remaining interval.

- It is ten to six, so we should leave now.
- Glancing at his watch, he realised it was already a quarter to midnight and the last bus had likely departed.

### 5. comparison or ratio

preposition · CEFR B1

used when comparing two things or showing a score.

For teachers: indicating a ratio, proportion, or comparison between two values or entities.

- Our team won the game three to one.
- The ratio of students to teachers in the private academy was significantly lower than in the local public schools.

### 6. with a verb

particle · CEFR A1

used before the basic form of a verb.

For teachers: a marker used to indicate the infinitive form of a following verb.

- I really want to learn how to play the guitar.
- The board of directors decided to postpone the merger until the market conditions became more stable.

### 7. closed

adverb · CEFR C2 · Literary

in a closed or nearly closed position.

For teachers: describing a door or window that is pushed into a closed or engaging position.

- He pushed the heavy wooden door to.
- She pulled the casement window to as the storm broke, shielding the library from the driving rain.

## Examples

- I am walking to the park now.
- She handed the keys to her brother before leaving for the airport.
- The transition from a traditional economy to a digital one requires significant investment in infrastructure and education across all sectors of society.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.