too

/tuː/

adverb★Beginner

general

To an excessive degree; beyond what is acceptable or appropriate

She was too tired to go out tonight.

Her exhaustion prevented her from going out.

The price is too high for my budget.

The cost exceeds what I can afford.

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Often used to indicate that something is beyond a desired or acceptable limit.

Collocations

too muchan excessive amount of somethingtoo manyan excessive number of thingstoo littlean insufficient amount of something

too much, too soonphrase

doing or experiencing something at an excessive rate or intensity

too little, too latephrase

an action or effort that comes after the optimal time and is therefore ineffective

'Too' is often used in comparative sentences, such as 'The box is too heavy to lift.' This means the box is so heavy that lifting it is impossible.

'Too' typically comes before adjectives and adverbs (e.g., 'too fast') and after determiners (e.g., 'too many people').

From Middle English 'to', meaning 'excessively', derived from Old English 'tō' (too much). Related to Old Norse 'tó' and Old High German 'zuo'.

Can be used with adjectives, adverbs, and nouns to indicate excess. Often followed by 'to' in comparative constructions (e.g., 'too big to fit').

too

excessive or beyond what is acceptable

root

English Dictionary