up to

/ˈʌp tuː/

//ˈʌp tuː// prep

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"up-to" is a 4-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“up to” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a preposition - the kind of word writers most often double-check.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
5
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see up, to.

Key facts for up to
PropertyValue
Headwordup to
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechPreposition
IPA/ˈʌp tuː/
Letters5
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “up to” sits in English frequency

up to falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for up to is 5 letters long, classified as a preposition, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈʌp tuː/. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 10 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

No generated misspelling entries exist for up to in our index, since its letter pattern doesn't lend itself to common typo substitutions. No confusable counterpart is on file for this word, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English up to, from Old English up tō. The correct English form is up to, spelled U-P- -T-O.

Definition

  1. 1
    Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see up, to.
  2. 2
    Capable, ready or equipped, having sufficient material preconditions for, possibly willpower (at a particular moment).
  3. 3
    As much as; no more than (also with of).
  4. 4
    Until.
  5. 5
    Within the responsibility of, to be attributed to the sphere of influence of, having someone or something as authoritative in.
  6. 6
    Doing, involved in.
  7. 7
    Doing, involved in.
  8. 8
    Considering all members of an equivalence class the same.
  9. 9
    Familiar with the meaning of; able to understand.
  10. 10
    Taught by; in the class of.

Etymology

From Middle English up to, from Old English up tō.

Synonyms

modulo

This word in other languages

hasta(Español)jusqu'à(Français)gewachsen(Deutsch)até(Português)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "up to"?
"up to" is spelled U-P- -T-O. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈʌp tuː/.
What does "up to" mean?
As a preposition, "up to" means: Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see up, to.
How do you pronounce "up to"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "up to" is /ˈʌp tuː/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "up to"?
From Middle English up to, from Old English up tō. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “up to”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is U-P- -T-O - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈʌp tuː/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list