two

[ too ]

/ tu /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for two on Thesaurus.com

noun

a cardinal number, 1 plus 1.

a symbol for this number, as 2 or II.

a set of this many persons or things.

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

adjective

amounting to two in number.

QUIZZES

QUIZ YOURSELF ON PARENTHESES AND BRACKETS APLENTY!

Set some time apart to test your bracket symbol knowledge, and see if you can keep your parentheses, squares, curlies, and angles all straight!

Question 1 of 7

Let’s start with some etymology: What are the origins of the typographical word “bracket”?

First appeared around 1750, and is related to the French word “braguette” for the name of codpiece armor.

First appeared in 1610, based on the French word “baguette” for the long loaf of bread.

First appeared in 1555, and is related to the French word “raquette” for a netted bat.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms for two

in two, into two separate parts, as halves: A bolt of lightning split the tree in two.

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.

Origin of two

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

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH two

to, too, two

Words nearby two

twitten, twitter, twitterpated, twittery, 'twixt, two, two-a-cat, Two-and-a-half International, two-bagger, two-base hit, two-beat

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

TWO VS. TO VS. TOO

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.

Quiz yourself on two vs. to vs. too!

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

I ordered _____ pizzas.

Example sentences from the Web for two

Interesting that those who sat in judgment of him found those two sets of beliefs to be incompatible.
In Defense of Blasphemy|Michael Tomasky|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
If anything the work the two cops and the maintenance guy were doing deserves more respect and probably helped a lot more people.
Trolls and Martyrdom: Je Ne Suis Pas Charlie|Arthur Chu|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Toomey lives here with her husband, Mark, a managing director at Goldman Sachs, and their two daughters.
How Taryn Toomey’s ‘The Class’ Became New York’s Latest Fitness Craze|Lizzie Crocker|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
But no more so than the Sodexo building maintenance man or the two cops who were also killed in the crossfire.
Trolls and Martyrdom: Je Ne Suis Pas Charlie|Arthur Chu|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST

France 24's coverage of two developing hostage situations in Paris on Friday.
LIVE Coverage of the Paris Terror Attacks||January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The case was an assault and battery that came off between two men named Brown and Henderson.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun;|Various
On the thirteenth of the same month they bound to the stake, in order to burn alive, a man who had two religious in his house.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XX, 1621-1624|Various
The night wore on, and the clock downstairs was striking the hour of two when she suddenly awakened.
The Homesteader|Oscar Micheaux
"The Smoker," and "Mother and Daughter," a triptych, are two of her principal pictures.
Women in the fine arts, from the Seventh Century B.C. to the Twentieth Century A.D.|Clara Erskine Clement
The Spaniards captured two schooners, having on board 22 officers and 30 men, all of whom were hanged or sent to the mines.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell

British Dictionary definitions for two

two

/ (tuː) /

noun

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one. It is a prime numberSee also number (def. 1)

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

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

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

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

in two in or into two partsbreak the bread in two

put two and two together to make an inference from available evidence, esp an obvious inference

that makes two of us the same applies to me

determiner

amounting to twotwo nails
(as pronoun)he bought two

Other words from two

Related adjectives: binary, double, dualRelated prefixes: di-, bi-

Word Origin for two

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

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

Idioms and Phrases with two

two

In addition to the idioms beginning with two

two bits
two can play at that game
two cents
two left feet, have
two of a kind
two shakes of a lamb's tail
two strikes against
two strings to one's bow
two ways about it
two wrongs do not make a right

also see:

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

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

two