Onto: meaning, definitions and examples

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onto

[ˈɒntuː ]

Definitions

^{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.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word combines 'on' and 'to,' indicating movement to a surface.
It has been used in English since the late 18th century, becoming popular in both everyday speech and literature.
It’s often confused with 'on,' but 'onto' emphasizes the action of moving to that position.

Grammar

'Onto' is a preposition, showing direction, whereas 'on' typically shows a static position.
People often mix up these two words, but 'onto' is about motion and placement.
In some contexts, it denotes understanding, such as being 'onto' a new idea.

Pop Culture

The phrase 'getting onto something' is commonly used in movies to imply starting a venture or understanding a situation.
In music, 'onto' appears in song lyrics, often representing moving forward or toward a goal.
Film titles or books with 'onto' often deal with themes of progress or transition.

Science

In mathematics, a function can be described as 'onto' if every item in the target set is related to an item in the domain.
In physics, 'onto' can describe the transfer of energy, such as when falling objects move onto surfaces.
Scientists use 'onto' to explain aspects of spatial relationships in experiments.

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