up to

preposition

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

In a video on Instagram, the car reaches speeds up to 130 mph in slightly more than three seconds and 100 to 150 mph in slightly under three seconds. —Antonio Planas, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024

The battery lasts up to 12 hours on a full charge, and the 128GB SSD gives you plenty of room for apps and files. —Stackcommerce Team (sponsored), PCMAG, 7 Nov. 2024

Retirees would also be facing a bigger benefit cut, up to 33% of their monthly checks rather than the 23% currently forecast, when the trust fund is exhausted, the group estimates. —Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 5 Nov. 2024

Studies show that gratitude can reduce cortisol—the body’s primary stress hormone—by up to 23%, creating a sense of calm and balance even in stressful situations. —Raquel Gomes, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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