unto

IPA/ˈʌntə/
KK[ˈʌntu]IPA/ˈʌntə/

unto — preposition

1. an old or formal word meaning 'to' or 'toward' — used to indicate direction, the

1.prepositionC1
Definition

an old or formal word meaning 'to' or 'toward' — used to indicate direction, the person being addressed, or the object of a relationship

Example

Lucas carried the wounded soldier unto the physician's tent before the battle resumed.

directional: movement toward a place

The old letter read: 'Speak this message unto my daughter and no other.'

addressing pattern: speak/say + unto + person

Common collocations
  • unto death
  • unto the end
  • be a law unto oneself
  • a world unto itself
  • do unto others
  • kind unto
  • faithful unto
Synonyms
  • to

    the modern default preposition for direction and receiving; neutral register

  • toward / towards

    emphasises direction or orientation rather than arrival; slightly more formal than 'to'

  • for

    can indicate the recipient or purpose, but not directly directional like 'unto'

Antonyms
  • from

    indicates origin or separation — the opposite direction

Grammar Patterns

unto + noun phrase (person or place)

unto + reflexive pronoun (oneself)

Usage Note

Primarily found in religious texts (the King James Bible), historical literature, proverbs, and formal set phrases. Avoid in modern everyday speech — use 'to' or 'toward(s)' instead. The phrase 'a law unto oneself' (meaning someone who ignores rules) is a common fixed expression still heard today.

Common Mistakes

I walked unto the store this morning.
I walked to the store this morning.
'unto' is not used for ordinary modern-direction sentences; use 'to'.
She gave the flowers unto her mother.
She gave the flowers to her mother.
'unto' sounds unnatural in modern everyday giving; use 'to'.
Idioms

a law unto oneself

idiom

a person who does what they want, ignoring rules or others' expectations

The new manager is a law unto herself and never follows company procedures.

In that remote mountain village, the old landlord was a law unto himself for decades.

do unto others

idiom

a saying that you should treat other people the way you would like them to treat you

Grandmother always said, 'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.'

The school taught children the golden rule: do unto others with kindness and fairness.

faithful unto death

idiom

remaining loyal or dedicated all the way until the end of one's life

The old dog stayed faithful unto death, never leaving his master's side.

The knight swore to be faithful unto death in the service of the queen.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: preposition/1

'Unto' is an old preposition that survives in religious writing, proverbs, and formal set phrases; it carries a solemn, elevated tone that modern 'to' lacks. 'To' is the everyday workhorse — neutral, used for direction, receiving, purpose, and infinitive verbs. 'Toward(s)' focuses on orientation or movement in a direction without necessarily implying arrival (walking toward the door vs. walking to the door). While 'to' fits any register and 'toward(s)' is slightly more formal or literary, 'unto' sounds archaic and would feel odd in ordinary conversation. In contemporary writing, use 'to' for destinations and recipients, 'toward(s)' for direction, and reserve 'unto' for deliberate archaic or Biblical effect — e.g., 'He went to the store' (modern) vs. 'He went unto the king' (archaic/literary).

unto ↗to ↗toward / towards

Common collocations

Phrases

  • unto death
  • unto the end
  • unto itself
  • unto oneself

Etymology

Old NorseOld EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

From Middle English 'unto', formed by combining 'un-' (a variant of Old Norse 'und', meaning 'up to' or 'as far as') with Old English 'tō' (meaning 'to'). The word became common in Middle English as a compound directional preposition and remained standard into Early Modern English, after which it gradually retreated to religious, literary, and formal use.