too
Americanadverb
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in addition; also; furthermore; moreover.
young, clever, and rich too.
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to an excessive extent or degree; beyond what is desirable, fitting, or right.
too sick to travel.
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more, as specified, than should be.
too near the fire.
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(used as an affirmative to contradict a negative statement).
I am too!
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extremely; very.
She wasn't too pleased with his behavior.
idioms
adverb
-
as well; in addition; also
can I come too?
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in or to an excessive degree; more than a fitting or desirable amount
I have too many things to do
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extremely
you're too kind
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informal indeed: used to reinforce a command
you will too do it!
-
certainly; indeed
Usage
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.
Etymology
Origin of too
First recorded before 900; Middle English to, Old English, stressed variant of to (for the adverb); spelling too since the 16th century
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
When I admonished my 7 year-old for complaining too much during a particularly wonderful excursion, she retorted, “Daddy, complaining is my passion!”
From Los Angeles Times
They aren’t the only victims of bigotry in American history and modern America; Italians and Irish immigrants had their turn, too.
From Los Angeles Times
One of Warsh’s standard critiques of the Fed since he left his role there as governor in 2011 has been that Fed officials talk too much.
From MarketWatch
Better yet, if you have too many cards, you could cancel a few and focus on your core cards.
From MarketWatch
In several cases, countries that arrived at trade deals with the U.S. later repented because their deals were too one-sided, he said.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
