unto
Americanpreposition
-
to (in its various uses, except as the accompaniment of the infinitive).
-
until; till.
preposition
Etymology
Origin of unto
1250–1300; Middle English, equivalent to un ( till ) until + to to
Compare meaning
How does unto compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
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.
“Except for the air assets, the fact that everyone else is a volunteer is awesome. It truly exemplifies the adage ‘Do unto others as you would want others to do unto you.’”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2026
He is a brand unto himself and a sought-after corporate ambassador.
From Salon ● Aug. 2, 2026
When it is tied to "an unparalleled moral eminence", he wrote, a fast unto death "amounts to blackmail".
From BBC ● Jul. 16, 2026
SpaceX is a law unto itself at this point, rising irrespective of whether the broader technology sector is having a good day.
From Barron's ● Jun. 17, 2026
He smiled sadly, watching her walk off, and muttered, “Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more.”
From "Dactyl Hill Squad" by Daniel José Older
![]()
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.