up to
🔊 Pronunciation
/ʌp tuː/
📝 Preposition Type
Type: complex_preposition
Core meaning: movement or extension towards a limit or destination
Can function as: preposition, particle
📍 Spatial Meanings
movement towards a higher point or destination
vertical or horizontal movement towards endpoint
She walked up to the door
The water came up to my knees
The path leads up to the hill
reaching a certain level or point
The snow was piled up to the window
⏰ Temporal Meanings
until a specific point in time
The shop is open up to 6pm
You can submit assignments up to Friday
💭 Abstract Meanings
Sense 1
reaching a maximum amount or limit
Prices go up to $1000
The fine could be up to $5000
Groups of up to 6 people are allowed
Sense 2
responsibility or decision
It's up to you to decide
The final choice is up to the committee
🔗 Complement Structures
Noun phrase
Structure: up to + noun phrase
up to the house up to the limit
Articles: articles required with count nouns
Pronoun
Structure: up to + pronoun
up to you up to them
Gerund
Structure: not possible
Clause
Structure: not applicable
💬 Fixed Expressions & Collocations
Idioms
“up to no good” – doing something wrong or mischievous (informal)
“up to scratch” – meeting required standards (informal)
Collocations
Verb + prep:
Common: lead up to, add up to, amount up to
Adj + prep:
Common: equal up to, equivalent up to
⚠️ Common Errors
❌ up to 6 years ago→✓ until 6 years ago
confusion with temporal reference point
❌ It depends up to you→✓ It's up to you
confusion with 'depend on'
❌ up to doing something→✓ up for doing something
wrong preposition for willingness
Medium impact
⚖️ Contrasts with Similar Prepositions
Until vs vs vs up vs to
Temporal: up to often implies limit, until implies duration
🌍 Etymology
Origin: Old English 'up' + 'to'
Original meaning: “movement towards higher position”