Meaning of onto In English

• 0 used to show movement into or on a particular place:

  • I slipped as I stepped onto the platform.

  • The sheep were loaded onto trucks.

• 1 used about changing to, or starting to talk about, a different subject:

  • How did we get onto this subject?

  • Can we move onto the next item on the agenda?

• 2 to keep holding something:

  • Hold onto my hand and you'll be perfectly safe.

• 3 knowing about someone or something that can be useful to you:

  • You're onto a good thing with this buy-one-get-one-free deal.

  • UK David put me onto (= told me about) a really good restaurant.

  • He knows we're onto him.

  • UK Who put the police onto (= told the police about) her?

• 4 If you are onto someone, you talk to that person, especially to ask them to do something, or to complain to them:

  • I must get onto the plumber about the shower.

  • Dad was onto her again about doing her homework.

• 5 used about someone or something that is added to or joins a particular thing:

  • Imir's been voted onto the union committee.

  • I've been having problems loading this software onto my computer.

• 6 into a position on:

  • Gennaro tossed his newspaper onto the table.

  • Everybody is onto you – why don’t you admit you lied?