on

[ on, awn ]

/ ɒn, ɔn /

Save This Word!

preposition

so as to be or remain supported by or suspended from: Put your package down on the table; Hang your coat on the hook.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

(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.

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

in addition to: millions on millions of stars.

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.

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

subject to: a doctor on call.

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

(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.

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

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

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

assigned to or occupied with; operating: Who's on the switchboard this afternoon?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

adverb

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

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

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

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

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

with continuous activity: to work on.

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

adjective

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

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

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

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.

scheduled or planned: Anything on after supper?

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

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

noun

Cricket. the on side.

QUIZZES

QUIZ YOURSELF ON "WAS" VS. "WERE"!

Were you ready for a quiz on this topic? Well, here it is! See how well you can differentiate between the uses of "was" vs. "were" in this quiz.

Question 1 of 7

“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.

true

false

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Meet Grammar Coach

Write or paste your essay, email, or story into Grammar Coach and get grammar help

Improve Your Writing

Meet Grammar Coach

Improve Your Writing

Idioms for on

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

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

on the bow, Nautical. bow³ (def. 8).

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

Origin of on

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

on , on to , onto

Words nearby on

Omri, OMS, Omsk, Omuta, OMW, on, Ona, on account, on account of, on a dime, on a first-name basis

Definition for on (2 of 5)

[ on ]

/ ɒn /

noun

Biblical name of Heliopolis.

Definition for on (3 of 5)

abbreviation

Old Norse. Also ON., O.N.

Ontario, Canada (approved for postal use).

Definition for on (4 of 5)

-on¹

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

Probably extracted from ion; cf. proton

Definition for on (5 of 5)

-on²

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

Origin of -on

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for on

Just the hard-on before you shoot unarmed members of the public.
'Babylon' Review: The Dumb Lives of Trigger-Happy Cops|Melissa Leon|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Three on-the-record stories from a family: a mother and her daughters who came from Phoenix.
I Tried to Warn You About Sleazy Billionaire Jeffrey Epstein in 2003|Vicky Ward|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
You just travel light with carry-on luggage, go to cities that you love, and get to hang out with all your friends.
Coffee Talk with Fred Armisen: On ‘Portlandia,’ Meeting Obama, and Taylor Swift’s Greatness|Marlow Stern|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
It was a brick wall that we turned into the on-ramp of a highway.
Coffee Talk with Fred Armisen: On ‘Portlandia,’ Meeting Obama, and Taylor Swift’s Greatness|Marlow Stern|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST

Could the (thus far) timid trembling give way to a full-on, grand mal seizure?
26 Earthquakes Later, Fracking’s Smoking Gun Is in Texas|James Joiner|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
I drew back from the rim of Writing-On-the-Stone, that set of whispered phrases echoing in my ears.
Raw Gold|Bertrand W. Sinclair
Kingston-on-Thames is still provincial in appearance, though now the centre of a great growth of modern suburbs.
The Portsmouth Road and Its Tributaries|Charles G. Harper
Besides the districts mentioned, tobacco is grown largely in that of Frankfort-on-the Oder.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce|E. R. Billings.
Madame Malmaison had always been a little proud of the beauty and grace and sweetness of her fitter-on.
The Weight of the Crown|Fred M. White
Berwick-on-Tweed lies partly in England and partly in Scotland, the river which runs through it forming the boundary line.
British Highways And Byways From A Motor Car|Thomas D. Murphy

British Dictionary definitions for on (1 of 4)

/ (ɒn) /

preposition

in contact or connection with the surface of; at the upper surface ofan apple on the ground; a mark on the table cloth

attached toa puppet on a string

carried withI've no money on me

in the immediate vicinity of; close to or along the side ofa house on the sea; this verges on the ridiculous!

within the time limits of a day or datehe arrived on Thursday

being performed upon or relayed through the medium ofwhat's on the television?

at the occasion ofon his retirement

used to indicate support, subsistence, contingency, etche lives on bread; it depends on what you want

regularly taking (a drug)she's on the pill
addicted tohe's on heroin

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

in the process or course ofon a journey; on strike

concerned with or relating toa tax on potatoes; a programme on archaeology

used to indicate the basis, grounds, or cause, as of a statement or actionI have it on good authority

against: used to indicate oppositionthey marched on the city at dawn

used to indicate a meeting or encounterhe crept up on her

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

informal

staked or wagered as a betten pounds on that horse
charged tothe drinks are on me

(usually followed by it) Australian drinking alcoholic liquor

informal, or dialect to the loss or disadvantage ofthe old car gave out on us

adverb (often used as a particle)

in the position or state required for the commencement or sustained continuation, as of a mechanical operationthe radio's been on all night

attached to, surrounding, or placed in contact with somethingthe girl had nothing on

taking placewhat's on tonight?

in a manner indicating continuity, persistence, concentration, etcdon't keep on about it; the play went on all afternoon

in a direction towards something, esp forwards; so as to make progresswe drove on towards London; march on!

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

on and on without ceasing; continually

adjective

functioning; operatingturn the switch to the on position

(postpositive) informal

performing, as on stageI'm on in five minutes
definitely taking placethe match is on for Friday; their marriage is still on
tolerable, practicable, acceptable, etcyour plan just isn't on
(of a person) willing to do something

on at informal naggingshe was always on at her husband

cricket (of a bowler) bowling

noun

cricket

(modifier) relating to or denoting the leg side of a cricket field or pitchthe on side; an on drive
(in combination) used to designate certain fielding positions on the leg sidelong-on; mid-on

Word Origin for on

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

British Dictionary definitions for on (2 of 4)

/ (ɒn) /

noun

the ancient Egyptian and biblical name for Heliopolis

British Dictionary definitions for on (3 of 4)

abbreviation for

Old Norse

(esp in postal addresses) Ontario

British Dictionary definitions for on (4 of 4)

-on

suffix forming nouns

indicating a chemical substanceinterferon; parathion

(in physics) indicating an elementary particle or quantumelectron; photon

(in chemistry) indicating an inert gasneon; radon

(in biochemistry) a molecular unitcodon; operon

Word Origin for -on

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

Medical definitions for on (1 of 3)

-on 1¹

suff.

A subatomic particle:neutron.

A unit:photon.

A basic hereditary unit:codon.

Medical definitions for on (2 of 3)

-on 2²

suff.

Inert gas:radon.

Medical definitions for on (3 of 3)

-on 3³

suff.

A chemical compound that is not a ketone or a compound that contains oxygen in a carbonyl group:parathion.

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

on

preposition

adverb

adjective

noun

QUIZZES

QUIZ YOURSELF ON "WAS" VS. "WERE"!

Meet Grammar Coach

Meet Grammar Coach

Idioms for on

Origin of on

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH on

Words nearby on

Definition for on (2 of 5)

noun

Definition for on (3 of 5)

abbreviation

Definition for on (4 of 5)

Origin of -on

Definition for on (5 of 5)

Origin of -on

Content related to on

Words related to on

Example sentences from the Web for on

British Dictionary definitions for on (1 of 4)

preposition

adverb (often used as a particle)

adjective

noun

Word Origin for on

British Dictionary definitions for on (2 of 4)

noun

British Dictionary definitions for on (3 of 4)

abbreviation for

British Dictionary definitions for on (4 of 4)

suffix forming nouns

Word Origin for -on

Medical definitions for on (1 of 3)

suff.

Medical definitions for on (2 of 3)

suff.

Medical definitions for on (3 of 3)

suff.