How to Use up to in a Sentence

up to

preposition
  • The mixed-use zone allows for up to 73 dwelling units per acre.
    — Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 June 2024
  • The women were each sentenced to up to 30 years in prison.
    — CBS News, 26 Mar. 2025
  • But when the band walked up to the podium, Taylor was nowhere in sight.
    — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 30 Aug. 2023
  • Some voters braved the night chill for up to eight hours to cast their vote.
    — Tomek Rolski, ABC News, 16 Oct. 2023
  • The hype of the game lived up to Salter’s expectations.
    — Logan Stanley, The Arizona Republic, 2 Jan. 2024
  • The storms are packing quarter-sized hail (1 inch) and wind gusts of up to 65 mph.
    — Star-Telegram Weather Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2025
  • The Saucony Guide 17 is a maximum cushion shoe that lives up to the hype.
    — Suzie Glassman, Health, 18 June 2024
  • For the brand's Memorial Day sale, snag up to $500 off sitewide.
    — Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 13 May 2025
  • There are 5- or 7-pound options available, all the way up to 30 pounds.
    — Scott Gilbertson, WIRED, 13 July 2023
  • Anyone caught smoking in a smoke-free area can be slapped with a fine of up to $50.
    — Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 18 Aug. 2023
  • The shirt buttons all the way up to the neck and has two button-closing chest pockets.
    — Clint Davis, Peoplemag, 7 Aug. 2024
  • And all members of the iPhone 16 series are included, right up to the iPhone 16e.
    — David Phelan, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
  • At home, my wife was about to follow me up to the second floor when she was stopped by a knock at the kitchen door.
    — Yukio Mishima, The New Yorker, 27 Oct. 2024
  • But the video of Trump sucking up to the 1 percent barely caused a ripple.
    — Jason Zengerle, New York Times, 26 May 2024
  • Customers lined up in the parking lot, some waiting up to an hour to buy.
    — Robert Klemko, Washington Post, 28 Oct. 2023
  • According to Candela, the C-8 can reach up to 30 knots at full tilt.
    — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 19 Aug. 2024
  • Choose between a two-, four-, or 12-pack with each bag sitting shoes up to size 14.
    — Asia London Palomba, Travel + Leisure, 2 Dec. 2024
  • The skirt of the dress rode all the way up to the top of her thighs, and featured a plunging v-neckline and a cut out over her torso.
    — Aimée Lutkin, ELLE, 6 Aug. 2023
  • That’s probably the point, but Fennell has set us up to want much more.
    — Ann Hornaday, Washington Post, 21 Nov. 2023
  • Grace chalked it up to the date: her period was nearing.
    — Cassidy Randall, Rolling Stone, 2 Mar. 2025
  • The rest is up to him; scores a brace on Saturday, keeps his place and TFG are left with a puzzle to solve.
    — Patrick Boyland, The Athletic, 6 Feb. 2025
  • The tent has adjustable legs with wheels and up to 6.2 feet of clearance when set on the maximum height.
    — Lauren Taylor, Southern Living, 23 Sep. 2023
  • Mills took a plea deal in which prosecutors call for up to 15 years in prison.
    — Tim Stelloh, NBC News, 4 Oct. 2024
  • In Japan, you can be jailed for up to seven years for possessing cannabis.
    — Time, 18 Aug. 2023
  • The invasive species can have up to a 4-inch leg span and possess venom in their fangs.
    — Skyler Caruso, Peoplemag, 7 June 2024
  • How to Apply: Cleanse skin, then apply under the eye and leave on for up to 15 minutes.
    — Kiana Murden, Vogue, 14 Dec. 2024
  • Fun fact: Llamas can carry up to one-third of their weight, or roughly 60 to 80 pounds.
    — Alayna Alvarez, Axios, 18 Aug. 2024
  • Jarrow faces up to five years in prison for false statement counts and up to 10 years for the theft of government funds.
    — Nick Mordowanec, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 May 2025
  • Wind speeds Sunday are predicted to be around 10 mph with gusts up to 23 mph.
    — Matt Hubbard, Baltimore Sun, 2 Mar. 2025
  • Additional rainfall amounts up to 0.25 inches are possible in the warned area.
    — Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 13 May 2025

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'up to.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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