too

[ too ]

/ tu /

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See synonyms for too on Thesaurus.com

adverb

in addition; also; furthermore; moreover: young, clever, and rich too.

to an excessive extent or degree; beyond what is desirable, fitting, or right: too sick to travel.

more, as specified, than should be: too near the fire.

(used as an affirmative to contradict a negative statement): I am too!

extremely; very: She wasn't too pleased with his behavior.

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Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

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Idioms about too

only too. only (def. 10).

Origin of too

before 900; Middle English to,Old English, stressed variant of to (adv.); spelling too since the 16th century

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH too

to, too , two

Words nearby too

tonsure, tontine, ton-up, tonus, tony, too, too bad, too big for one's britches, too close for comfort, too close to call, toodle-oo

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

TOO VS. TO VS. TWO

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

Too means also (I’m going, too) or to an excessive degree (too much). 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). Two is the number equal to one plus one.

The words are used in very different ways: too is an adverb, to is most commonly used as a preposition, and two is a number that can be used as a noun or an adjective.

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 too, to, and two used correctly in the same sentence.

Example: We went to two two-star restaurants, and it was two two-star restaurants too many!

Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between too, to, and two.

Quiz yourself on too vs. to vs. two!

Should too, to, or two be used in the following sentence?

I like pizza, _____, you know.

How to use too in a sentence

But along with the cartoon funk is an all-too-real story of police brutality embodied by a horde of evil Pigs.
‘Black Dynamite’ Presents Police Brutality: The Musical|Stereo Williams|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
I remember H. Jon Benjamin told me it was a way-too-late apology for Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
‘Archer’ Creator Adam Reed Spills Season 6 Secrets, From Surreal Plotlines to Life Post-ISIS|Marlow Stern|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
In the not-too-distant future, the AMRAAM might also be out-ranged by new weapons that are being developed around the world.
Pentagon Worries That Russia Can Now Outshoot U.S. Stealth Jets|Dave Majumdar|December 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Jennifer Lawrence has long been praised for her authenticity in a Hollywood elite full of all-too-carefully curated personalities.
Jennifer Lawrence Shouldn’t Laugh Off Her Nude Photo Hack|Samantha Allen|September 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Sheets of bright-but-not-too-bright blue streaked with thin clouds.
Native American Basketball Team in Wyoming Have Hoop Dreams Of Their Own|Robert Silverman|August 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Coppy, in a tone of too-hastily-assumed authority, had told her over night that she must not ride out by the river.
Kipling Stories and Poems Every Child Should Know, Book II|Rudyard Kipling
From time to time Lockhart gave vent to a grim laugh, and Spivin displayed his feelings in a too-amiable smile.
The Garret and the Garden|R.M. Ballantyne
Sylvan scenes, with a dash of human savagery in the foreground, form the best relief for a too-extended assimilation of books.
Mystery Ranch|Arthur Chapman
Then she looked more hopeful as her eyes rested on Betty, who was sorting the contents of a too-crowded dresser drawer.
The Outdoor Girls in the Saddle|Laura Lee Hope
Characteristically, this weakness seems to have taken the form of a too-generous estimate of his fellows.
The Fatal Dowry|Philip Massinger

British Dictionary definitions for too

too

/ (tuː) /

adverb

as well; in addition; alsocan I come too?

in or to an excessive degree; more than a fitting or desirable amountI have too many things to do

extremelyyou're too kind

US and Canadian informal indeed: used to reinforce a commandyou will too do it!

too right! British, Australian and NZ certainly; indeed

Word Origin for too

Old English tō; related to Old Frisian, Old Saxon to, Old High German zou; see to 1

undefined too

See very

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with too

too

In addition to the idioms beginning with too

too bad
too big for one's britches
too close for comfort
too close to call
too good to be true
too little, too late
tool up
too many cooks spoil the broth
too much of a good thing

also see:

carry too far
(too) close to home
eat one's cake and have it, too
go too far
irons in the fire, too many
life is too short
none too
not (too) bad
only too
speak too soon
spread oneself too thin
take on (too much)