Dictionary.com

onto

[ on-too, awn-; unstressed on-tuh, awn- ]
/ ˈɒn tu, ˈɔn-; unstressed ˈɒn tə, ˈɔn- /
See synonyms for onto on Thesaurus.com

preposition

to a place or position on; upon; on: to get onto a horse.
Informal. in or into a state of awareness about: I'm onto your scheme.

adjective

Also surjective .Mathematics. pertaining to a function or map from one set to another set, the range of which is the entire second set.

QUIZZES

LEARN THE SPANISH WORDS FOR THESE COMMON ANIMALS!

Are you learning Spanish? Or do you just have an interest in foreign languages? Either way, this quiz on Spanish words for animals is for you.
Question 1 of 13
How do you say “cat” 🐈 in Spanish?
gato/gata
cato/cata
gatto/gatta
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of onto

First recorded in 1575–85; on + to

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH onto

on, onto , on to

Definition for onto (2 of 2)

onto-

a combining form meaning “being,” used in the formation of compound words: ontogeny.
Also especially before a vowel, ont-.

Origin of onto-

<New Latin <Greek ont- (stem of ón, neuter present participle of eînai to be) + -o--o-
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Words related to onto

adjacent, against, toward, above, on, over, out upon

British Dictionary definitions for onto (1 of 2)

onto

on to

/ (ˈɒntʊ, unstressed ˈɒntə) /

preposition

to a position that is onstep onto the train as it passes
having become aware of (something illicit or secret)the police are onto us
into contact withget onto the factory

usage for onto

Onto is now generally accepted as a word in its own right. On to is still used, however, where on is considered to be part of the verb: he moved on to a different town as contrasted with he jumped onto the stage

British Dictionary definitions for onto (2 of 2)

onto-

combining form

existence or beingontogeny; ontology

Word Origin for onto-

from Late Greek, from ōn (stem ont-) being, present participle of einai to be
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for onto

onto-

pref.

Organism; being:ontogeny.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Idioms and Phrases with onto

on to

see be on to.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.