Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

on file

Idioms  
  1. In or as if in a record for easy reference. For example, There's no job open right now, but we'll keep your résumé on file. The use of file in the sense of “a collection of papers stored for ready reference” dates from the early 1600s.


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

If your company has recently switched providers, log in or call to confirm what’s currently on file.

From MarketWatch Sep. 10, 2026

While the tax putatively applies only to non-primary residences not occupied or leased, there’s no simple way for the city to determine this based on its records on file.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 29, 2026

The jury could not reach a verdict on the assault charge and the Crown Prosecution Service did not seek a retrial, so the count was allowed to lie on file.

From BBC May 18, 2026

When ballots are sent by mail, election officials are required to verify a voter’s signature on the ballot by comparing it with the signature on the official voter registration records on file.

From Los Angeles Times Mar. 2, 2026

In England, it was already possible to search by fingerprint; a complex system of classification meant that a new fingerprint could be compared to similar fingerprints on file in minutes.

From "The Mona Lisa Vanishes" by Nicholas Day

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Join 14,000,000 vocabulary learners

Start learning new words today on VocabTrainer.
You'll remember them forever.

Start training