up to

preposition

Synonyms of up tonext
1
—used as a function word to indicate extension as far as a specified place
sank up to his knees in the mud
2
—used as a function word to indicate a limit or boundary
up to 50,000 copies a month
worked up to the last minute

Examples of up to in a Sentence

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.
The winter blast continued after snowfall of up to 3 feet blanketed the Sierra Nevada earlier in the week. — CBS News, 14 Mar. 2025 Breakthrough infections, when a vaccinated person is infected are rare, as the measles vaccine provides up to 97% protection after 2 doses. — Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 14 Mar. 2025 According to Gartner, up to 75% of ERP projects fail to meet expectations, primarily due to poor planning, scope governance, misaligned expectations and inadequate change management. — Kerry Brown, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025 Stock up on your favorite leggings, pants, sweatshirts, and more during Spanx’s Spring Sale and save up to 70 percent off. — Toni Sutton, People.com, 14 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for up to

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of up to was in the 13th century

Rhymes for up to

See All Rhymes for up to

Browse Nearby Words

up to
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Cite this Entry

“Up to.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/up%20to. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

up to

preposition
1
: as far as a named part or place
sank up to my hips
2
: in accordance with
the game was not up to our standards
3
a
: to the limit of
come in sizes up to 10
b
: as many or as much as
carry up to 10 tons
4
: until entry 1, till
from dawn up to dusk

More from Merriam-Webster on up to

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for up to

Nglish: Translation of up to for Spanish Speakers

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