Onto: meaning, definitions and examples

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onto

[ ˈɒntuː ]

Preposition / Adverb

Oxford 3000

^{Context #1 | Preposition}

in motion

Moving or facing forward. In the direction of. In a position where someone or something is supported.

Synonyms

on, upon.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
onto	Use 'onto' when indicating movement towards a surface or a position on a surface. She stepped onto the stage. He placed the book onto the shelf.
on	Use 'on' to describe a position in contact with a surface, or time expressions. The book is on the table. She has a meeting on Monday.
upon	Use 'upon' in formal writing or literature to indicate something happening immediately or after something else. Upon hearing the news, she started to cry. He stumbled upon a hidden treasure.

Word

Description / Examples

onto

Use 'onto' when indicating movement towards a surface or a position on a surface.

She stepped onto the stage.
He placed the book onto the shelf.

Use 'on' to describe a position in contact with a surface, or time expressions.

The book is on the table.
She has a meeting on Monday.

upon

Use 'upon' in formal writing or literature to indicate something happening immediately or after something else.

Upon hearing the news, she started to cry.
He stumbled upon a hidden treasure.

Examples of usage

She stepped onto the stage confidently.
He jumped onto the moving train.
The cat climbed onto the roof.

^{Context #2 | Adverb}

awareness

Fully aware or informed about something.

Synonyms

aware, informed.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
onto	Use 'onto' in contexts implying understanding or discovering something, especially when someone is becoming more aware of a situation or uncovering hidden details. Often used informally. He's onto our plan, so we need to change it. The manager is onto the fact that some employees are not doing their jobs.
aware	Use 'aware' to indicate consciousness or knowledge of something. It is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal settings. I wasn't aware of the meeting being rescheduled. She is aware of all the consequences of her actions.
informed	Use 'informed' to emphasize that someone has been given essential details or knowledge about a subject. It is often used in formal or professional contexts. Please keep me informed about any changes to the schedule. He is well-informed on the topic of renewable energy.

Word

Description / Examples

onto

Use 'onto' in contexts implying understanding or discovering something, especially when someone is becoming more aware of a situation or uncovering hidden details. Often used informally.

He's onto our plan, so we need to change it.
The manager is onto the fact that some employees are not doing their jobs.

aware

Use 'aware' to indicate consciousness or knowledge of something. It is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal settings.

I wasn't aware of the meeting being rescheduled.
She is aware of all the consequences of her actions.

informed

Use 'informed' to emphasize that someone has been given essential details or knowledge about a subject. It is often used in formal or professional contexts.

Please keep me informed about any changes to the schedule.
He is well-informed on the topic of renewable energy.

Examples of usage

She is onto your plan.
He quickly caught onto the secret.

Translations

Translations of the word "onto" in other languages:

🇵🇹 em cima de

🇮🇳 ऊपर

🇩🇪 auf

🇮🇩 di atas

🇺🇦 на

🇵🇱 na

🇯🇵 上に

🇫🇷 sur

🇪🇸 sobre

🇹🇷 üzerine

🇰🇷 위에

🇸🇦 على

🇨🇿 na

🇸🇰 na

🇨🇳 在上面

🇸🇮 na

🇮🇸 á

🇰🇿 үстінде

🇬🇪 ზედა

🇦🇿 üstündə

🇲🇽 sobre

Etymology

The word 'onto' originated from the Old English word 'on to', which was used to indicate movement or direction. Over time, the two words merged into 'onto' to represent the same concept. The usage of 'onto' as a preposition became more common in the English language during the Middle English period.