# too

/ˈtu/ (US) · /tˈuː/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/too
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. more than enough

adverb · CEFR A1

more than is needed, wanted, or possible.

For teachers: to an excessive degree; used before adjectives or adverbs to indicate that a quality exceeds a desirable or functional limit.

- The soup was too salty to eat, so I had to send it back.
- The instructions were too complex for a novice to follow without constant supervision from a senior technician.

Usage: Placed immediately before the adjective or adverb it modifies.

### 2. also

adverb · CEFR A1

in addition; also.

For teachers: likewise or in addition; functions as an additive focus marker.

- I am going to the cinema tonight, and my brother is coming too.
- While the primary goal is to reduce costs, the new policy aims to improve employee satisfaction too.

Usage: Usually placed at the end of a clause or sentence.

### 3. very

adverb · CEFR B2 · Informal

very or extremely.

For teachers: used as an intensifier to mean 'very'; often found in fixed expressions like 'only too happy'.

- I would be only too happy to help you with your project.
- The consequences of ignoring the safety warnings are only too clear to those who have worked in the industry for years.

## Examples

- The coffee is too hot to drink right now.
- The suitcase was too heavy for the overhead compartment, so the passenger had to check it in at the gate.
- While the proposal was theoretically sound, the board found the implementation costs too high to justify given the current economic downturn.

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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.