online

American  

[on-lahyn, awn-] / ˈɒnˈlaɪn, ˈɔn- /

Or on-line,

adjective

1. operating under the direct control of, or connected to, a main computer.

2. connected by computer to one or more other computers or networks, as through a commercial electronic information service or the internet.

3. of or denoting a business that transmits electronic information over telecommunications lines.

   an online bookstore.

4. available or operating on a computer or computer network.

   an online dictionary.

5. by means of or using a computer.

   online shopping.

6. Radio. (of a network) supplying affiliated stations with all or a substantial part of their programming.

7. Television. of or relating to the final editing of a videotaped program.

8. done or accomplished while in operation or active service.

   online maintenance.

9. located on major routes or rail lines.

   online industries.

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adverb

1. with or through a computer, especially over a network.

online British  

/ ˈɒnˌlaɪn /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or concerned with a peripheral device that is directly connected to and controlled by the central processing unit of a computer

2. of or relating to the internet

   online shopping

3. occurring as part of, or involving, a continuous sequence of operations, such as a production line

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adverb

1. while connected to a computer or the internet

online Scientific  

/ ŏn′līn′ /

1. Connected to or accessible by means of a computer or computer network.

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online Cultural  

1. A term referring to locations on or use of the Internet. The term can be used to refer to a specific location or Web page (“Our sales catalogues can be found online at — ”) or to a personal activity (“I went online to find the information you wanted.”)

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Etymology

Origin of online

First recorded in 1915–20 (in sense “located on rail lines”); 1945–50 for other senses

Explanation

When you're online, you are using a computer or other device that's connected to the Internet. If someone asks if you're online, they're wondering whether you have Internet access. You might say, "I need to go online and check my email," or "I don't know if she's still meeting me — she hasn't been online all day." Or you could describe something that's available or readable on the Internet, like a news story, as being online. While the adjective officially describes a connection to any computer network, it's almost always used these days to mean "on the Internet." The word online has been around since 1950.

Example Sentences

At least someone is getting to retire early: Online influencers have now been around long enough that some of them are officially hanging it up.

From Slate • Jul. 1, 2026

She is also the co-author of the study, "Save Our Mother Tongue": Online Repression and Erasure of Mongolian Culture in China.

From BBC • Jul. 1, 2026

But the company has been a member of the Coalition to End Wildlife Trafficking Online since 2018, and the problem has continued to grow, said Steve Galster, founder of Freeland.

From Barron's • Jun. 29, 2026

Online court records show the status of Miller’s case as “Active - Pending.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 25, 2026

“My name is Michael Wilson, and I’m with the Credit and Collections division of Innovative Online Industries.”

From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline