two

[too]

noun

1. a cardinal number, 1 plus 1.

2. a symbol for this number, as 2 or II.

3. a set of this many persons or things.

4. a playing card, die face, or half of a domino face with two pips.

adjective

1. amounting to two in number.

two

/ tuː /

noun

1. the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one. It is a prime number See also number

2. a numeral, 2, II, (ii), etc, representing this number

3. music the numeral 2 used as the lower figure in a time signature, indicating that the beat is measured in minims

4. something representing, represented by, or consisting of two units, such as a playing card with two symbols on it

5. Also called: two o'clock. two hours after noon or midnight

6. in or into two parts

   break the bread in two

7. to make an inference from available evidence, esp an obvious inference

8. the same applies to me

determiner

1. 1. amounting to two

      two nails

   2. ( as pronoun )

      he bought two

Word History and Origins

Origin of two¹

before 900; Middle English; Old English twā (feminine and neuter; twain ); cognate with German zwei; compare Latin duo, Greek dýo

Word History and Origins

Origin of two¹

Old English twā (feminine); related to Old High German zwā, Old Norse tvau, Latin, Greek duo

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. put two and two together, to draw a correct conclusion from the given circumstances; infer.

   It didn't require a great mind to put two and two together.

2. in two, into two separate parts, as halves.

   A bolt of lightning split the tree in two.

More idioms and phrases containing two

• fall between the crack (two stools)
• for two cents
• game that two can play
• goody-two-shoes
• in two shakes
• it takes two
• kill two birds with one stone
• know all the answers (a thing or two)
• lesser of two evils
• like as two peas in a pod
• no two ways about it
• of two minds
• put two and two together
• that makes two of us
• thing or two
• wear two hats

Example Sentences

The two grief-stricken men ache to be understood.

From Los Angeles Times

He concluded the owner of the accountancy firm wanted to dismiss Ms Lanuszka before she had accrued two years' service, the time at which workers can claim unfair dismissal under UK law.

From BBC

The jury failed to reach verdicts on two other defendants, a man and a boy, and a retrial will be held in 2026.

From BBC

She was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court to five years in prison for two counts of fraud by abuse of position after pleading guilty last month.

From BBC

A 40-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after two women died in London five months apart.

From BBC

Related Words

• couple 
• double 
• pair 
• team 

When To Use

What's the difference between two, to, and too?

Two is the number equal to one plus one. To is a very common word that performs many different functions, such as expressing direction (I’m driving to the office) or contact (Pin it to the wall), indicating an object or recipient (Give it to me), or setting a range (9 to 5) or limit (These go to 11). Too means also (I’m going, too) or to an excessive degree (too much).The words are used in very different ways: two is a number that can be used as a noun or an adjective, to is most commonly used as a preposition, and too is an adverb.Perhaps the most common mistake involving the three words is using to when it should be too, or vice versa. Remember, if you mean to, don’t use too many o’s!Here’s an example of two, to, and too used correctly in the same sentence.Example: The dealer dealt two twos to me, but it was two twos too few—my opponent had a full house!Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between two, to, and too.