1
: to a position on
We climbed onto the roof.
Turn left onto Fifth Avenue.
2
: in or into a state of awareness about
put me onto your methods
was onto something that should have been pursued further—Bosley Crowther
3
—used as a function word to indicate a set each element of which is the image of at least one element of another set
a function mapping the set S onto the set T

onto

2 of 2

adjective

: mapping elements in such a way that every element in one set is the image of at least one element in another set
a function that is one-to-one and onto

Examples of onto in a Sentence

Preposition We climbed onto the building's roof. The book fell onto the floor. The water spilled onto the floor. The cowboy leaped onto his horse. Transfer the data onto a disk. Turn left onto Third Street at the traffic light.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Preposition
It’s set within AMAI, a sprawling hotel development between Cancún and Puerto Morelos, located within a mangrove landscape that gradually opens onto the Caribbean. — Todd Plummer, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Oct. 2026 Seven thousand nights of walking onto a stage and giving people a reason to smile, dance, remember, fall in love, or maybe just forget their troubles for a couple of hours. — Chris Willman, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026 Neither is pasting historical motifs onto a contemporary product or using traditional culture as decorative packaging. — Li Jun, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026 The grips that slide onto the back of the Joy-Con protectors are modular, too. — Cameron Faulkner, The Verge, 12 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for onto

Word History

First Known Use

Preposition

1581, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1942, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of onto was in 1581

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Onto.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/onto. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

onto

preposition
on·​to
ˌȯn-tə, 
ˌän-;
ˈȯn-tü, 
ˈän-
1
: to a position on or against
leaped onto the horse
climbed onto the roof
2
: in a state of knowing about or becoming aware of
I'm onto their little game
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