to
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++to1 /tə; before vowels tʊ; strong tuː/ ●●● S1 W1 [used before the basic form of a verb to show that it is in the infinitive] 1 XX a) used after a verb, noun, or adjective when an infinitive completes its meaning 〔用于动词、名词或形容词后 使意思完整〕 We tried to explain. 我们试图解释。 It was starting to rain. 开始下雨了。 The manager asked them to leave. 经理要求他们离开。 an attempt to escape 逃跑的企图 Have you got permission to stay here? 你获准待在这儿了吗？ Our team’s certain to win. 我们队肯定会赢。 Are you ready to start? 你准备好开始了吗？ This delicious dessert is easy to make (=you can make it easily). 这道美味的甜点制作容易。 b) used by itself instead of an infinitive in order to avoid repeating the same verb 〔代替不定式单独使用，以避免重复使用同一个动词〕 You can drive today if you want to (=if you want to drive). 你今天要是想开车，就开吧。 I could have helped, but nobody asked me to. 我本可以帮忙，但没人叫我。2 XXused after a word such as ‘how’, ‘where’, ‘who’, ‘what’, or ‘whether’ to refer to an action about which someone is not certain 〔用于how，where，who，what 或 whether 之后，表示某人不确定的某个行为〕 I know where to go but I don’t know how to get there. 我知道去什么地方，但我不知道怎样去。 She wondered whether or not to trust him. 她不知道该不该信任他。3 TO/IN ORDER TOused to show a purpose or intention 〔表示目的或意图〕 They left early to catch the 7.30 train. 他们早早动身去赶7点30分的火车。 To find out more about university courses, write to this address. 想要了解更多大学课程的信息，按此地址来函。 We need more money to improve transport in London. 我们需要更多资金来改善伦敦的交通状况。 RegisterIn written English, people often use in order to rather than just to when expressing a purpose or intention, because it sounds more formal: 在书面英语中，人们经常用in order to而不只是to表示“为了…”，因为这样听上去更正式Investment has been increased in order to improve the transport system. 已经增加了投资以改善交通。4 used to refer to an action or state, when describing it 〔用于描述某种行为或状态〕 It’s nice to be wanted. 被人需要感觉很好。 He’s finding it hard to cope. 他发现这件事很难应付。 To say I am disappointed is an understatement. 说我失望只是轻描淡写。 The simplest solution would be to increase the price. 最简单的解决办法就是提高价格。5 used to say what can or cannot be done, or what should be done 〔用于表示能否做什么或应该做什么〕 You’ll soon be old enough to vote in elections. 你很快就到可以投票的年龄了。 He did not have the energy to resist. 他无力抵抗。 I’m too tired to go out tonight. 我太累了，今晚没法出去。6 XXused after the verb ‘be’ to give an order or to state arrangements for the future 〔用于动词be后，表示下指令或说明未来的安排〕7 used to say what someone discovers or experiences when they do something 〔指某人做某事时的发现或经历〕8 used to say what your attitude or purpose is in saying something 〔说明说话的态度或目的〕to2 ●●● S1 W1 preposition 1 TOWARDSused to say where someone or something goes 向，朝，到，往2 used to say who receives something or is told or shown something 向；给；对3 XXused to show in which direction something is in relation to something else 在…方，位于…方向4 XXused to show the purpose, event, or activity for which you go somewhere 去做，去参加5 XXused to say what state someone or something is in as a result of an action or change 到〔某种状态〕6 XXused to say that one thing is touching another 〔相互之间〕贴着，紧挨着7 used to say where something is fastened or connected 连接在8 TOWARDSfacing something or in front of it 对着，面对着9 used to show a relationship with someone or something 〔表明和某人或某物的关系〕10 UNTIL11 used to say what or who an action, attitude, situation etc affects or is related to 对，对于〔指受某一行为、某种态度、情况等影响的对象〕12 XXused to say who someone works for 为…〔工作〕13 used to say what something is needed for 用于14 COMPAREused when comparing two things, numbers etc 比，相比于15 XXused to say who has a particular attitude or opinion about something 对于…而言，对…来说16 XXused to say what someone’s reaction is when something happens 〔表示某事发生时某人的反应〕17 UNTILused when saying how much time there is before a particular event or time 〔离某件事或某时间〕还差…时间18 XX19 used to say that a particular sound is heard at the same time as something happens 〔表示某事发生时伴随的声音〕20 XXused between two numbers when you do not know exactly what the real number or amount is 至，到 用于两个数字之间，表示估计数字〕21 (all) to yourself if you have something or someone to yourself, you do not have to share them with other people 独享22 DGGused to say what the chances of something happening are 〔表示某事发生的几率〕
Examples from the Corpus
to• Contreras was driving at 80 to 90 miles per hour.• 100-1 odds• "What time is it?" "Ten to five."• Do you want to go to Mika's wedding with me?• Jason's hair is down to his shoulders now.• After an hour outside my hands had turned to ice.• He turned his back to me and walked away.• He doesn't even say "Hi" to me anymore.• It seems to me that we should just buy a new TV.• Nathan, you sit here to my right.• I'll bet you 50 to one he doesn't show up.• It's ten to six.• It doesn't get dark until about twenty to ten.• Do you have the keys to the house?• It's just a week to the wedding - how do you feel?• Mt. Eddy is directly to the west of Mt. Shasta.• He's going to Tokyo on a business trip.• A to Zto3 /tuː/ ●●○ adverb British English XXif a door is pushed to, it closes or almost closes 〔门〕在关上的位置 The wind blew the door to. 风把门吹上了。 → come toOrigin to2 Old Englishused an adjective or after a verb, when infinitive Corpus noun, completes
to
to1 S1 W1 /tə; before vowels tʊ; strong tuː/ 
[used before the basic form of a verb to show that it is in the infinitive]
1.
a. used after a verb, noun, or adjective when an infinitive completes its meaning:
We tried to explain.
It was starting to rain.
The manager asked them to leave.
an attempt to escape
Have you got permission to stay here?
Our team’s certain to win.
Are you ready to start?
This delicious dessert is easy to make (=you can make it easily).
b. used by itself instead of an infinitive in order to avoid repeating the same verb:
You can drive today if you want to (=if you want to drive).
I could have helped, but nobody asked me to.
2. used after a word such as ‘how’, ‘where’, ‘who’, ‘what’, or ‘whether’ to refer to an action about which someone is not certain:
I know where to go but I don’t know how to get there.
She wondered whether or not to trust him.
3. used to show a purpose or intention:
They left early to catch the 7.30 train.
To find out more about university courses, write to this address.
We need more money to improve transport in London.
REGISTER
In written English, people often use in order to rather than just to when expressing a purpose or intention, because it sounds more formal:
▪Investment has been increased in order to improve the transport system.
4. used to refer to an action or state, when describing it:
It’s nice to be wanted.
He’s finding it hard to cope.
To say I am disappointed is an understatement.
The simplest solution would be to increase the price.
5. used to say what can or cannot be done, or what should be done:
You’ll soon be old enough to vote in elections.
He did not have the energy to resist.
I’m too tired to go out tonight.
6. used after the verb ‘be’ to give an order or to state arrangements for the future:
You are to wait here until I return.
They are to be married on May 25th.
7. used to say what someone discovers or experiences when they do something:
He arrived there to find that the last train had already left.
The princess stepped ashore to be greeted by an enthusiastic crowd of admirers.
She woke to see Ben standing by the window.
8. used to say what your attitude or purpose is in saying something:
I’ve never heard of him, to be quite honest.
To begin with, let’s look at Chapter 3.
to2 S1 W1 preposition
She stood up and walked to the window.
the road to London
our weekly trip to the supermarket
sending a spaceship to Mars
These people go from house to house selling goods (=visit many different houses).
2. used to say who receives something or is told or shown something:
He sent presents to the children.
She whispered something to the girl beside her.
Give my best wishes to your parents when you see them.
Don’t show these letters to anyone else.
a message from the Emperor to his people
3. used to show in which direction something is in relation to something else:
Knutsford is about 16 miles to the south of Manchester.
There was a table to the left of the doorway.
4. used to show the purpose, event, or activity for which you go somewhere:
Sophie goes to gymnastics every Friday.
Did you get an invitation to their wedding?
Don’t forget, we’re going to a party tomorrow night.
If he needed help, Mother came rushing to the rescue.
5. used to say what state someone or something is in as a result of an action or change:
She sang the baby to sleep.
Wait until the lights change to green.
a return to a traditional way of life
6. used to say that one thing is touching another:
He held a knife to her throat.
They danced cheek to cheek.
7. used to say where something is fastened or connected:
He tied the rope to a tree.
Attach a recent photograph to your application form.
Cash machines are linked up to a central computer.
8. facing something or in front of it:
I sat with my back to the window.
We were standing face to face.
9. used to show a relationship with someone or something:
George’s sister was married to an Italian.
He was first cousin to King Philip VI.
The robbery may be linked to other crimes of violence.
10.
a. as far as a particular point or limit:
She can already count from one to twenty.
The water came right up to our knees.
Temperatures dropped to 25 degrees below zero.
It’s ten kilometres from here to the coast.
She read the novel from beginning to end.
Does your interest in nuclear physics extend to nuclear weaponry?
b. until and including a particular time or date:
They stayed from Friday night to Sunday morning.
I’ll be on duty from 8 am to 10 pm.
11. used to say what or who an action, attitude, situation etc affects or is related to:
The factory clearly represents a danger to health.
She’s always been kind to animals.
his attitude to life
What have you done to the radio? It’s not working.
12. used to say who someone works for:
Jane is secretary to the managing director.
13. used to say what something is needed for:
I’m still waiting for an answer to my question.
Have you seen the key to the back door?
14. used when comparing two things, numbers etc:
England beat Scotland by two goals to one.
Yes, she was punished, but it was nothing to what she deserved.
15. used to say who has a particular attitude or opinion about something:
The whole thing sounds very suspicious to me.
Tickets cost £10 each and to some people that’s a lot of money.
To my mind, age does not matter; love is what matters.
16. used to say what someone’s reaction is when something happens:
Much to everyone’s surprise she passed the exam with distinction.
I discovered to my horror that my passport was missing.
17. used when saying how much time there is before a particular event or time:
It’s only two weeks to Christmas.
How long is it to dinner?
ten to five/twenty to one etc (=ten minutes, twenty minutes etc before a particular hour)
18.
a. used when talking about a rate or quantity to say how many smaller units equal a larger unit:
We’re only getting 130 yen to the dollar at the moment.
There are just over four and a half litres to a gallon.
b. used to show the relationship between two different measurements or quantities:
The car will do over 40 miles to the gallon.
The scale of your map is one inch to the mile.
19. used to say that a particular sound is heard at the same time as something happens:
I woke to the sound of torrential rain.
The royal couple arrived to a fanfare of trumpets.
I like to exercise to music.
20. used between two numbers when you do not know exactly what the real number or amount is:
There must have been eighteen to twenty thousand people at the concert.
He drowned in 10 to 12 feet of water.
21. (all) to yourself if you have something or someone to yourself, you do not have to share them with other people:
It was the first time I’d had a room to myself.
22. used to say what the chances of something happening are:
I’ll bet you ten to one he’ll forget all about it.
to3 /tuː/ adverb British English
if a door is pushed to, it closes or almost closes:
The wind blew the door to.
⇨ come to(6)
| I |
[used before the basic form of a verb to show that it is in the infinitive]1.
a. used after a verb, noun, or adjective when an infinitive completes its meaning:
b. used by itself instead of an infinitive in order to avoid repeating the same verb:
2. used after a word such as ‘how’, ‘where’, ‘who’, ‘what’, or ‘whether’ to refer to an action about which someone is not certain:
3. used to show a purpose or intention:
REGISTER
In written English, people often use in order to rather than just to when expressing a purpose or intention, because it sounds more formal:
▪
4. used to refer to an action or state, when describing it:
5. used to say what can or cannot be done, or what should be done:
6. used after the verb ‘be’ to give an order or to state arrangements for the future:
7. used to say what someone discovers or experiences when they do something:
8. used to say what your attitude or purpose is in saying something:
| II |
preposition Language: Old English
1. used to say where someone or something goes: 2. used to say who receives something or is told or shown something:
3. used to show in which direction something is in relation to something else:
4. used to show the purpose, event, or activity for which you go somewhere:
5. used to say what state someone or something is in as a result of an action or change:
6. used to say that one thing is touching another:
7. used to say where something is fastened or connected:
8. facing something or in front of it:
9. used to show a relationship with someone or something:
10.
a. as far as a particular point or limit:
b. until and including a particular time or date:
11. used to say what or who an action, attitude, situation etc affects or is related to:
12. used to say who someone works for:
13. used to say what something is needed for:
14. used when comparing two things, numbers etc:
15. used to say who has a particular attitude or opinion about something:
16. used to say what someone’s reaction is when something happens:
17. used when saying how much time there is before a particular event or time:
ten to five/twenty to one etc (=ten minutes, twenty minutes etc before a particular hour)
18.
a. used when talking about a rate or quantity to say how many smaller units equal a larger unit:
b. used to show the relationship between two different measurements or quantities:
19. used to say that a particular sound is heard at the same time as something happens:
20. used between two numbers when you do not know exactly what the real number or amount is:
21. (all) to yourself if you have something or someone to yourself, you do not have to share them with other people:
22. used to say what the chances of something happening are:
| III |
adverb British Englishif a door is pushed to, it closes or almost closes:
⇨ come to(6)
especially
