onto

¹

[on-too, awn-, on-tuh, awn-]

preposition

1. to a place or position on; upon; on.

   to get onto a horse.

2. Informal.,  in or into a state of awareness about.

   I'm onto your scheme.

adjective

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

onto-

²

1. a combining form meaning “being,” used in the formation of compound words.

   ontogeny.

onto

¹

/ ˈɒntə, ˈɒntʊ /

preposition

1. to a position that is on

   step onto the train as it passes

2. having become aware of (something illicit or secret)

   the police are onto us

3. into contact with

   get onto the factory

onto-

²

combining form

1. existence or being

   ontogeny

   ontology

Usage

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of onto¹

First recorded in 1575–85; on + to

Origin of onto²

< New Latin < Greek ont- (stem of ón, neuter present participle of eînai to be) + -o- -o-

Word History and Origins

Origin of onto¹

from Late Greek, from ōn (stem ont- ) being, present participle of einai to be

Example Sentences

The life-size metal statue shows a father lifting a child with albinism onto his shoulders while the mother shields it from the sun.

Read more on BBC

Security analysts believe the authorities in Cuba held onto him for several months to interrogate him at length before sending him back to Mexico and, inevitably, onwards to the US.

Read more on BBC

In video from KPIX, the U-Haul is shown slowly reversing onto the bridge toward the officers, who are standing with their guns aimed at the vehicle.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

So they’ve lobbed onto this thing about Rep-elect Grijalva.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“I have to go back to the client and say ‘Guess what, I’m not eating that,’” she said, one of many business owners in the Piedmont who expects to pass cost increases onto customers.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

When To Use

What does onto- mean?

Onto- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “being.” It is occasionally used in technical terms, especially in philosophy.The form onto- comes from Greek ṓn, meaning “being.” The Latin equivalents are ēns, ent- and essent- “being,” which are the sources of entity and essence.What are variants of onto-?When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, onto- becomes ont-, as in ontic. When used as a suffix at the end of a word, onto- becomes -ont, as in diplont. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use articles for ont- and -ont.