on

[ on, awn ]
See synonyms for on on Thesaurus.com
preposition
  1. so as to be or remain supported by or suspended from: Put your package down on the table.Hang your coat on the hook.

  2. so as to be attached to or unified with: Hang the picture on the wall.Paste the label on the package.

  1. so as to be a covering or wrapping for: Put the blanket on the baby.Put aluminum foil on the lamb chops before freezing them.

  2. in connection, association, or cooperation with; as a part or element of: to serve on a jury.

  3. so as to be a supporting part, base, backing, etc., of: a painting on canvas;mounted on cardboard;legs on a chair.

  4. (used to indicate place, location, situation, etc.): a scar on the face;the book on the table;a house on 19th Street.

  5. (used to indicate immediate proximity): a house on the lake;to border on absurdity.

  6. in the direction of: on the left;to sail on a southerly course.

  7. (used to indicate a means of conveyance or a means of supporting or supplying movement): on the wing;This car runs on electricity.Can you walk on your hands?I'll be there on the noon plane.

  8. by the agency or means of: drunk on wine;talking on the phone;I saw it on television.

  9. in addition to: millions on millions of stars.

  10. with respect or regard to (used to indicate the object of an action directed against or toward): Let's play a joke on him.Write a critical essay on Shakespeare.

  11. in a state or condition of; in the process of: on strike;The house is on fire!

  12. subject to: a doctor on call.

  13. engaged in or involved with: He's on the second chapter now.

  14. (used to indicate a source or a person or thing that serves as a source or agent): a duty on imported goods;She depends on her friends for encouragement.

  15. (used to indicate a basis or ground): on my word of honor;The movie is based on the book.

  16. (used to indicate risk or liability): on pain of death.

  17. (used to indicate progress toward or completion of an objective): We completed the project on budget.

  18. assigned to or occupied with: Who's on reception this afternoon?Let’s shoot this one with you on lighting, and her on sound.

  19. Informal. so as to disturb or affect adversely: My hair dryer broke on me.

  20. Informal. paid for by, especially as a treat or gift: Dinner is on me.

  21. taking or using as a prescribed measure, cure, or the like: The doctor had her on a low-salt diet.

  22. regularly taking or addicted to: He was on drugs for two years.

  23. Informal. with; carried by: I have no money on me.

  24. (used to indicate time or occasion): on Sunday;We demand cash on delivery.

  25. (used to indicate the object or end of motion): to march on the capital.

  26. (used to indicate the object or end of action, thought, desire, etc.): to gaze on a scene.

  27. (used to indicate subject, reference, or respect): views on public matters.

  28. (used to indicate an encounter): The pickpocket crept up on a victim.

  29. (used to indicate fault or responsibility): It's on them to make their needs known.If you eat that and get sick, it's on you—I warned you!

adverb
  1. in, into, or onto a position of being supported or attached: Sew the buttons on.

  2. in, into, or onto a position of covering or wrapping: Put your raincoat on.

  1. fast to a thing, as for support: Hold on!

  2. toward a place, point, activity, or object: to look on while others work.

  3. forward, onward, or along, as in any course or process: further on.

  4. with continuous activity: to work on.

  5. into or in active operation or performance: Turn the gas on.

adjective
  1. operating or in use: The television set was on.Is your brake on?

  2. taking place; occurring: Don't you know there's a war on?

  1. performing or broadcasting: The radio announcer told us we were on.

  2. Informal.

    • behaving in a theatrical, lively, or ingratiating way: Around close friends, one doesn't have to be on every minute.

    • functioning or performing at one's best: When she's on, no other tennis player is half as good.

  3. scheduled or planned: Anything on after supper?

  4. Baseball. positioned on a base or bases: They had two men on when he hit the home run.

  5. Cricket. noting that side of the wicket, or of the field, on which the batsman stands.

noun
  1. Cricket. the on side.

Idioms about on

  1. on and off, off (def. 54a).

  2. on and on, at great length, so as to become tiresome: They rambled on and on about their grandchildren.

  1. on the bow, Nautical. bow3 (def. 8).

  2. on to, aware of the true nature, motive, or meaning of: I'm on to your little game.

Origin of on

1
First recorded before 900; Middle English on, an, Old English: “on, in, to”; cognate with Dutch aan, German an, Old Norse ā, Gothic ana; akin to Greek aná “up, upon” (see ana-)

Words that may be confused with on

Other definitions for On (2 of 5)

On
[ on ]

noun
  1. Biblical name of Heliopolis.

Other definitions for ON (3 of 5)

ON

abbreviation
  1. Old Norse. : Also ON., O.N.

  2. Ontario, Canada (approved for postal use).

Other definitions for -on (4 of 5)

-on1

  1. a suffix used in the names of subatomic particles (gluon; meson; neutron), quanta (graviton), and other minimal entities or components (cistron; codon; magneton; photon).

Origin of -on

4
Probably extracted from ion; cf. proton

Other definitions for -on (5 of 5)

-on2

  1. a suffix used in the naming of inert gaseous elements: neon.

Origin of -on

5
≪ Greek -on, neuter of -os adj. ending

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use on in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for on (1 of 4)

on

/ (ɒn) /


preposition
  1. in contact or connection with the surface of; at the upper surface of: an apple on the ground; a mark on the table cloth

  2. attached to: a puppet on a string

  1. carried with: I've no money on me

  2. in the immediate vicinity of; close to or along the side of: a house on the sea; this verges on the ridiculous!

  3. within the time limits of a day or date: he arrived on Thursday

  4. being performed upon or relayed through the medium of: what's on the television?

  5. at the occasion of: on his retirement

  6. used to indicate support, subsistence, contingency, etc: he lives on bread; it depends on what you want

    • regularly taking (a drug): she's on the pill

    • addicted to: he's on heroin

  7. by means of (something considered as a mode of transport) (esp in such phrases as on foot, on wheels, on horseback, etc)

  8. in the process or course of: on a journey; on strike

  9. concerned with or relating to: a tax on potatoes; a programme on archaeology

  10. used to indicate the basis, grounds, or cause, as of a statement or action: I have it on good authority

  11. against: used to indicate opposition: they marched on the city at dawn

  12. used to indicate a meeting or encounter: he crept up on her

  13. (used with an adjective preceded by the) indicating the manner or way in which an action is carried out: on the sly; on the cheap

  14. informal

    • staked or wagered as a bet: ten pounds on that horse

    • charged to: the drinks are on me

  15. (usually followed by it) Australian drinking alcoholic liquor

  16. informal, or dialect to the loss or disadvantage of: the old car gave out on us

adverb(often used as a particle)
  1. in the position or state required for the commencement or sustained continuation, as of a mechanical operation: the radio's been on all night

  2. attached to, surrounding, or placed in contact with something: the girl had nothing on

  1. taking place: what's on tonight?

  2. in a manner indicating continuity, persistence, concentration, etc: don't keep on about it; the play went on all afternoon

  3. in a direction towards something, esp forwards; so as to make progress: we drove on towards London; march on!

  4. on and off or off and on intermittently; from time to time

  5. on and on without ceasing; continually

adjective
  1. functioning; operating: turn the switch to the on position

  2. (postpositive) informal

    • performing, as on stage: I'm on in five minutes

    • definitely taking place: the match is on for Friday; their marriage is still on

    • tolerable, practicable, acceptable, etc: your plan just isn't on

    • (of a person) willing to do something

  1. on at informal nagging: she was always on at her husband

  2. cricket (of a bowler) bowling

noun
  1. cricket

    • (modifier) relating to or denoting the leg side of a cricket field or pitch: the on side; an on drive

    • (in combination) used to designate certain fielding positions on the leg side: long-on; mid-on

Origin of on

1
Old English an, on; related to Old Saxon an, Old High German, Gothic ana

British Dictionary definitions for On (2 of 4)

On

/ (ɒn) /


noun
  1. the ancient Egyptian and biblical name for Heliopolis

British Dictionary definitions for ON (3 of 4)

ON

abbreviation for
  1. Old Norse

  2. (esp in postal addresses) Ontario

British Dictionary definitions for -on (4 of 4)

-on

suffix forming nouns
  1. indicating a chemical substance: interferon; parathion

  2. (in physics) indicating an elementary particle or quantum: electron; photon

  1. (in chemistry) indicating an inert gas: neon; radon

  2. (in biochemistry) a molecular unit: codon; operon

Origin of -on

4
from ion

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012