on
preposition
so as to be or remain supported by or suspended from.
on
1 American
[on, awn]
/ ɒn, ɔn /
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.
Who's on reception this afternoon?
Let’s shoot this one with you on lighting, and her on sound.
-
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.
-
(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
-
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
On
2
American
[on]
/ ɒn /
noun
-on
4
American
-on
5
American
on
1
British
/ ɒn /
preposition
-
in contact or connection with the surface of; at the upper surface of
an apple on the ground
a mark on the table cloth
-
attached to
a puppet on a string
-
carried with
I've no money on me
-
in the immediate vicinity of; close to or along the side of
a house on the sea
this verges on the ridiculous!
-
within the time limits of a day or date
he arrived on Thursday
-
being performed upon or relayed through the medium of
what's on the television?
-
at the occasion of
on his retirement
-
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
-
-
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 of
on a journey
on strike
-
concerned with or relating to
a tax on potatoes
a programme on archaeology
-
used to indicate the basis, grounds, or cause, as of a statement or action
I have it on good authority
-
against: used to indicate opposition
they marched on the city at dawn
-
used to indicate a meeting or encounter
he crept up on her
-
(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
-
informal
-
staked or wagered as a bet
ten pounds on that horse
-
charged to
the drinks are on me
-
-
(usually followed by it) drinking alcoholic liquor
-
informal to the loss or disadvantage of
the old car gave out on us
adverb
-
in the position or state required for the commencement or sustained continuation, as of a mechanical operation
the radio's been on all night
-
attached to, surrounding, or placed in contact with something
the girl had nothing on
-
taking place
what's on tonight?
-
in a manner indicating continuity, persistence, concentration, etc
don't keep on about it
the play went on all afternoon
-
in a direction towards something, esp forwards; so as to make progress
we drove on towards London
march on!
-
intermittently; from time to time
-
without ceasing; continually
adjective
-
functioning; operating
turn the switch to the on position
-
informal (postpositive)
-
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
-
-
informal nagging
she was always on at her husband
-
cricket (of a bowler) bowling
noun
-on
2
British
suffix
-
indicating a chemical substance
interferon
parathion
-
(in physics) indicating an elementary particle or quantum
electron
photon
-
(in chemistry) indicating an inert gas
neon
radon
-
(in biochemistry) a molecular unit
codon
operon
ON
3
British
abbreviation
-
Old Norse
-
(esp in postal addresses) Ontario
On
4
British
/ ɒn /
noun
Etymology
Origin of on1
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-)
Origin of -on4
Probably extracted from ion; cf. proton
Origin of -on5
≪ Greek -on, neuter of -os adj. ending
Vocabulary lists containing on
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:
Anderson's research focuses on one of the biggest transitions in biological history: how Earth changed from a planet dominated by bacteria into one inhabited by complex multicellular organisms.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 17, 2026
They adapt the material to a lithography-based manufacturing method suitable for making devices on wafers.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 17, 2026
Based on the Saguaro case study, the researchers suggest that little red dots may not form a unique class of galaxy.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 17, 2026
For lasers that rely on these resonators to increase coherence, the benefit grows rapidly.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 17, 2026
But she tries to focus on the road ahead.
From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly
On a night out with work friends, one said to him "don't take this the wrong way, Barry, but you've become a massive unit".
From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026
On Aug. 14, the Wall St Journal published a report detailing how proprietary trading giant Jane Street lost $15 billion that month as it had become a significant investor in Situational Awareness LP.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 17, 2026
On a team with 11 seniors, Seung is fitting right in with a fearless attitude and competitive drive.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 17, 2026
On the other side, the prosecution has appealed against Patterson's sentence, saying the non-parole period of 33 years imposed by the judge was "manifestly inadequate".
From Barron's ● Aug. 17, 2026
On her chest was a large, beaded tag with her name, Joyce.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
ON Semiconductor fell 24%, becoming the S&P 500’s worst performer, following its $7 billion acquisition of Synaptics.
From Barron's ● Jun. 26, 2026
The ETF’s worst performing stock was ON Semiconductor, which fell 24%, making it the S&P 500’s worst performer in Friday’s session.
From Barron's ● Jun. 26, 2026
Shares of ON Semiconductor tumbled 12% premarket, while Synaptics’ stock gained 6%.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026
One member of the Synaptics board will join ON Semiconductor’s board as part of the deal, expected to close in the middle of next year.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026
ON the night of Sancho's seventh day as governor, just when he began to fall asleep, there was a great commotion outside.
From "Adventures of Don Quixote" by Argentina Palacios
And a more inclusive Haymarket monument, featuring an artistic recreation of the wooden wagon that was used as a speakers platform, has sat - unbothered -on the original Haymarket site since 2004.
From Washington Times ● Jul. 28, 2020
“Being in basketball, you always see the father-and -on type of relationship that you always want, what I always wished to have. When I was younger, I had a hard time dealing with that.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 16, 2019
I have tried telephone book foot raises, bozu balls, yoga, pilates, small ball exercises, tennis balls -on and on.
From New York Times ● Jan. 2, 2018
The suffix "-on" is Greek, and became standard for newly discovered particles a century ago.
From BBC ● Jul. 5, 2012
GRAY, J.E., on Sus pliciceps. -on a variety of the gold-fish. -hybrids of the ass and zebra. -on the breeding of animals at Knowsley. -on the breeding of birds in captivity.
From The Variation of Animals and Plants under Domestication — Volume 2 by Charles Darwin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
