onto B1 Topic:Grammar & Function Words US /ˈɑn.tu/ UK /ˈɒn.tuː/ See IPA manual Freq #1566 Meanings 1 prep To a position on top of or on the surface of something. My cat just jumped onto the keyboard. 2 prep Aware of or having discovered (someone's secret or plan). The police were onto his plan within days. Thesaurus Word family Derived forms thereontowhereonto Etymology AI details From on + to, after into. Compare Saterland Frisian antou (“up to”). Topics Grammar & Function Words External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # onto **Type:** Word **Level:** B1 **Part of speech:** prep **IPA (US):** /ˈɑn.tu/ **IPA (UK):** /ˈɒn.tuː/ **Frequency rank:** 1566 ## Meanings 1. To a position on top of or on the surface of something. 2. Aware of or having discovered (someone's secret or plan). ## Examples - My cat just jumped onto the keyboard. - The police were onto his plan within days. ## Derived Forms - thereonto - whereonto ## Etymology From on + to, after into. Compare Saterland Frisian antou (“up to”). ## AI Etymology Onto comes from on + to, after into. Compare Saterland Frisian antou (“up to”). Modern senses include to a position on top of or on the surface of something and aware of or having discovered (someone's secret or plan). The wider word family includes derivatives such as thereonto and whereonto. ## Topics - Grammar & Function Words markdown