to the

English

Pronunciation

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Phrase

to the

1. (mathematics) Short for to the power of or to the ... (nth) power.

   Two to the fourth equals sixteen.

   = Two to the fourth power equals sixteen.

   = Two to the four equals sixteen.

   = (Two to the power of four equals sixteen.)

   Ten to the fourth (10,000)

   =Ten to the four

   Ten to the minus four (1/10,000)

   Ten to the zero (1)

2. (slang) used in rap songs between the letters of a word being spelled

   J to the L-O

Usage notes

• Use with ordinal numbers (first, tenth, hundredth) is somewhat more common and formal for positive integers.
  
• For negative, zero, or fractional powers, the ordinal form (minus tenth, zeroth, halfth) is rare or non-existent without the word "power".
• The use with cardinal numbers (one, ten, one hundred, zero, minus ten) is common in Mathematics and Computing and is almost always used for numbers other than positive integers.
• Formal usage with ordinals normally includes the word "power" for clarity, and the alternative form to the power of is preferred for powers that are not positive integers.

Related terms

• to the power of

See also

• English terms starting with “to the”