on

1. not comparableIn the state of being active, functioning or operating.

   All the lights are on, so they must be home.

   Antonyms: off

2. not comparableHappening; taking place; being or due to be put into action.

   Are we still on for tonight?

   5 more examples

   We had to ration our food because there was a war on.

   Some of the cast went down with flu, but the show's still on.

   That TV programme that you wanted to watch is on now.

   This is her last song. You're on next!

   Mike just threw coffee onto Paul's lap. It's on now.

   1. informalnot comparableOf a person, used to express agreement to or acceptance of a proposal or challenge made by that person; most commonly with subject "you" (see you're on).

      If he wants a fight, he's on!

      1 more example

      "Five bucks says the Cavs win tonight." ―"You're on!"

3. not comparableFitted; covering or being worn.

   Your feet will soon warm up once your socks are on.

   1 more example

   I was trying to drink out of the bottle while the top was still on!

4. not comparablepostpositionalOf a stated part of something, oriented towards the viewer or other specified direction.

   edge on, side on, end on, face on

   1 more example

   The photograph shows the UFO side on.

5. UKinformalnot comparableAcceptable, appropriate.

   It's not fair to do that – it's just not on.

   2 more examples

   This kind of over-packaging of goods is completely not on.

   1998 May 22, Phoenix Gamma, “If I was owned Nintendo...”, in alt.games.video.nintendo-64 (Usenet)

   so Simon Nelson saying on Feedback "we'd prefer it if everybody listened to digital radio via DAB" is completely not on at all.

   2003 August 12, DAB sounds worse than FM, “Gerg Dyke's Speech at Radio Festival”, in alt.radio.digital (Usenet)

6. not comparablePossible; capable of being successfully carried out.

   Climbing up that steep ridge isn't on. We'll have to find another route.

   1 more example

   He'd like to play the red next to the black spot, but that shot isn't on.

7. not comparableAvailable; remaining.

   Smith is 25 points ahead with only 23 on.

8. informalnot comparableball gamesHaving reached a base as a runner and being positioned there, awaiting further action from a subsequent batter.

   With one out and no men on, Tristen Carranza belted a ball to the opposite field for a solo home run to put the NM State deficit at just 2-1.

   2019 February 24, Chris Kennedy, “Aggies Earn Series Win Over Yale in Sunday Finale”, in New Mexico State University Athletics

   1 more example

   Although Stanford was outhit 15-6, the Cardinal stranded eight runners to UCLA's three, hitting just 3-15 with runners on compared to the Bruin's 9-22.

   2019 April 6, Daniel Martinez-Krams, “Baseball Falls Short in Game 2 of UCLA Series”, in The Stanford Daily

   Synonyms: on base

9. not comparableball gamesWithin the half of the field on the same side as the batsman's legs; the left side for a right-handed batsman.

   Ponsonby-Smythe hit a thumping on drive.

   1 more example

   The captain moved two fielders to the on side.

   Synonyms: leg · Antonyms: off

10. not comparablepostpositionalball gamesOf a ball, being the next in sequence to be potted, according to the rules of the game.

    If the player fails to hit the ball on, it's a foul.

11. not comparableroleplaying gamesactingActing in character.
12. informalnot comparablePerformative or funny in a wearying manner.

    He always has to be on, it's so exhausting.

13. euphemisticnot comparableMenstruating.

    It still gets in the way of her doing things like swimming, and she avoids sleepovers when she's "on".

    2011, Hollie Smith Netmums, You and Your Tween: Managing the years from 9 to 13, Hachette, →ISBN

1. not comparableTo an operating state.

   turn the television on

2. not comparableSo as to cover or be fitted.

   Put on your hat and gloves.

   1 more example

   The lid wasn't screwed on properly.

3. not comparableAlong, forwards (continuing an action), onwards.

   rock on

   4 more examples

   The policeman moved the tramp on.

   Drive on past the railway station.

   From now on things are going to be different.

   He met Luis Suarez's cross at the far post, only for Chelsea keeper Petr Cech to show brilliant reflexes to deflect his header on to the bar. Carroll turned away to lead Liverpool's insistent protests that the ball had crossed the line but referee Phil Dowd and assistant referee Andrew Garratt waved play on, with even a succession of replays proving inconclusive.

   2012 May 5, Phil McNulty, “Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool”, in BBC Sport

4. not comparableIn continuation, at length.

   and so on

   1 more example

   He rambled on and on.

5. not comparableinfrequent in the USLater.

   Ten years on, nothing had changed in the village.

   Synonyms: after, afterward, afterwards, later, subsequently, thence

6. not comparableOf betting odds, denoting a better-than-even chance. See also odds-on.

   That horse is twenty-to-one on, so you need to stake twenty pounds just to win one pound.

   Antonyms: against

7. not comparableball gamesOf a ball, into a pottable position.

   The black was previously unavailable, but in potting that red, he's now pushed the black on.

1. Indicating position or location.
   1. Positioned at the upper surface of, touching from above.

      Please lie down on the couch.

      4 more examples

      A vase of flowers stood on the table.

      The parrot was sitting on Jim's shoulder.

      We should go sailing on the lake together sometime.

      I stood on the bridge at midnight.

      1845, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, The Bridge

   2. Positioned at or resting against the outer surface of; attached to.

      The painting hangs on the wall.

      4 more examples

      He had a scar on the side of his face.

      There is a dirty smudge on this window.

      The fruit ripened on the trees.

      Should there be an accent on the "e"?

   3. Covering.

      He wore old shoes on his feet.

   4. At or in (a geographical location or position).

      The suspect is thought to still be on the campus.

      1 more example

      The lighthouse that you can see is on the mainland.

   5. At (a relative spatial position).

      We live on the edge of the city.

      1 more example

      on the left, on the right, on the side, on the bottom

   6. Near; adjacent to; alongside; just off.

      The fleet is on the American coast.

      1 more example

      Croton-on-Hudson, Rostov-on-Don, Southend-on-Sea

   7. Aboard (a mode of transport, especially public transport, or transport that one sits astride or uses while standing).

      on a bicycle, on a motorbike, on a horse, on a scooter

      1 more example

      on a bus, on a train, on a plane, on a ferry, on a yacht

   8. nauticalIn the direction of (some part of one's vessel), to within 45 degrees.

      on the bow; on the starboard beam

      1 more example

      A ship was sighted on the port quarter.

2. Expressing figurative placement, burden, or attachment.

   I put a bet on the winning horse.

   1 more example

   All of the responsibility is on him.

3. Denoting physical contact or interaction with an object, such as impact or application of force.
   1. With verbs describing an action of pushing, pulling, pressing, etc., designates the thing to which force is applied.

      tug on the rope; push hard on the door

   2. With verbs describing an action of hitting, rubbing, scratching, binding against, etc., designates the thing impacted or contacted.

      The rope snagged on a branch.

      2 more examples

      I stubbed my toe on an old tree stump.

      I caught my fingernail on the door handle.

   3. Denoting performance or action by contact with the surface, upper part, or outside of anything By means of; with.

      to play on a violin or piano

4. Supported by (the specified part of itself).

   A table can't stand on two legs.

   1 more example

   After resting on his elbows, he stood on his toes, then walked on his heels.

5. UKAt (a certain value or level).

   The blue team are on six points and the red team on five.

   1 more example

   The Tories are on twenty-five percent in this constituency.

6. At (a certain position within a sequence).

   I'm on question four.

7. At or during the date or day of.

   Born on the 4th of July.

   2 more examples

   On Sunday I'm busy. I'll see you on Monday.

   Can I see you on a different day?

8. UKespeciallyAt (a given time after the start of something).

   Smith scored again on twelve minutes, doubling Mudchester Rovers' lead.

   1 more example

   The Spain striker had given Chelsea the lead on 29 minutes but was shown a straight red card 10 minutes later for a rash challenge on Mark Gower.

   2011 September 24, Aled Williams, “Chelsea 4-1 Swansea”, in BBC Sport, archived from the original on 03 Jan 2026

9. At (an instant or cusp).

   on the stroke of midnight; on the "B" of "Bang!"

   2 more examples

   on the point of leaving; on the verge of giving up

   About two weeks ago I had another foretaste of success and immediately on it a veritable disaster.

   1923, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], “(please specify the page)”, in The Eyes of Max Carrados, London: Grant Richards, →OCLC

10. Dealing with the subject of; about; concerning.

    I was reading a book on history.

    3 more examples

    The city hosted the World Summit on the Information Society

    I have no opinion on this subject.

    [...] I received a note from that gentleman on a most trivial matter. I answered it as trivially.

    1869 May, Anthony Trollope, “Lady Milborough as Ambassador”, in He Knew He Was Right, volume I, London: Strahan and Company, […], →OCLC, page 85

    Synonyms: about

11. Indicating a means or medium.

    I'll pay on card.

    5 more examples

    I saw it on television.

    Can't you see I'm on the phone?

    My favorite shows are on BBC America.

    The Beatles' appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show is on YouTube.

    The film was released on DVD.

12. Indicating the target of, or thing affected by, an event or action.

    They planned an attack on London.

    3 more examples

    The soldiers mutinied and turned their guns on their officers.

    Her words made a lasting impression on my mind.

    What will be the effect on morale?

13. informalIn the possession of.

    I haven't got any money on me.

14. Because of; upon the basis of (something not yet confirmed as true).

    to contact someone on a hunch

    1 more example

    to arrest someone on suspicion of bribery

    Synonyms: by dint of

15. also often 'upon'At the time of (and often because of).

    On Jack's entry, William got up to leave.

    2 more examples

    On the addition of ammonia, a chemical reaction begins.

    A young woman, before marriage, hears only the myths of wedded bliss. Later, on discovering the truth, she conspires with other women to conceal it.

    1988 February 14, Louise Rice, quoting Angela Bowen, “Confronting The Mythology Of Motherhood”, in Gay Community News, volume 15, number 30, page 7

16. also often 'upon'Arrived or coming into the presence of.

    I need to get my planting done, as the season will soon be on us.

    1 more example

    Before we knew it, the forest was on us, and the air grew colder and damper.

17. Paid for by.

    The meal is on the house.

    2 more examples

    The drinks are on me tonight, boys.

    I paid for the airfare and meals for my family, but the hotel room was on the company.

18. Toward; for; indicating the object of an emotion.

    Have pity or compassion on him.

19. IrelandespeciallyIndicating the person experiencing an emotion, cold, thirst, hunger, etc.

    I had a terrible thirst on me.

    3 more examples

    '[…] the hunger is on me to carry my sword in distant places.' Mynyddog bowed his head.

    2013 February 27, Rosemary Sutcliff, The Shining Company, Random House, →ISBN

    “Christ, the thirst on me.” “Sure, it's serious work, all that talk of independence.” The theater's stained-glass doors had first flung open in 1904, all in the hope of “rewriting the Irish identity,” of using culture in the fight[…]

    2017 January 24, Ruth Gilligan, Nine Folds Make a Paper Swan, Tin House Books, →ISBN

    “I've got the hunger on me, I do.” Riordan snorted. Hardly a man knew hunger as he did. The prison rations at Point Lookout, spare enough, had been a feast compared to the black years in Ireland.[…]

    2017 August 29, Ralph Peters, Judgment at Appomattox: A Novel, Forge Books, →ISBN, page 18

20. Indicating a means of subsistence or sustenance.

    They lived on ten dollars a week.

    2 more examples

    The dog survived three weeks on rainwater.

    1950s, UK Egg Marketing Board advertising slogan. Go to work on an egg.

21. Engaged in or occupied with (an action or activity).

    He's on his lunch break.

    2 more examples

    I'm on nights all this week.

    on vacation; on holiday; on a mission; on the job; on the fiddle

22. Regularly taking (a drug).

    You've been on these antidepressants far too long.

23. Under the influence of (a drug, or something that is causing drug-like effects).

    He's acting crazy because he's on crack right now.

24. In addition to; besides; indicating multiplication or succession in a series.

    heaps on heaps of food

    1 more example

    mischief on mischief; loss on loss

25. Indicating dependence or reliance.

    I depended on them for assistance.

    1 more example

    He will promise on certain conditions.

26. Serving as a member of.

    He is on the jury; I am on the committee.

27. By virtue of; with the pledge of.

    He affirmed or promised on his word, or on his honour.

    1. abbreviationellipsisinformalEllipsis of I swear on: on my life, on God, on everything, etc.
28. To the account or detriment of; denoting imprecation or invocation, or coming to, falling, or resting upon.

    A curse on him!

    5 more examples

    On us be all the blame.

    Please don't tell on her and get her in trouble.

    He turned on her and has been her enemy ever since.

    He went all honest on me, making me listen to his confession.

    His blood be on vs, and on our children.

    1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Matthew 27:25

29. especially when numbers of combatants or competitors are specifiedAgainst; in opposition to.

    The fight was three on one, and he never stood a chance.

30. human sciencesAccording to, from the standpoint of; (expressing what must follow, whether accepted or not, if a given premise or system is assumed true).

    On naturalism, it is therefore difficult to find a ground for ultimate moral hope.

    2021, Gavin Ortlund, Why God Makes Sense in a World That Doesn't: The Beauty of Christian Theism, Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, →ISBN

    Synonyms: in, under, with, within

31. ball gamesIn a position of being able to pot (a given ball).

    All the way around the table, off four cushions, and ... and he's on the black!

32. mathematicsHaving as identical domain and codomain.

    a function on #92;mathbb#123;R#125;

33. mathematicsHaving Vⁿ as domain and V as codomain, for the specified set V and some integer n.

    an operator on #92;mathbb#123;Z#125;

34. mathematicsGenerated by.

    the free group on four letters

35. QuebecmathematicsDivided by.

    Twenty on three.

    Synonyms: over

36. dialectalobsoleteregionalOf.

    I never seen 'im, and that's the truth on it.

    2 more examples

    Be not jealous on me.

    1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]

    Or have we eaten on the insane root / That takes the reason prisoner?

    c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii]

37. obsoleteAt the peril of, or for the safety of.

    Hence on thy life: the captive maid is mine; / Whom not for price or pray'rs I will reſign: [...]

    a. 1701 (date written), John Dryden, “The First Book of Homer’s Ilias”, in The Miscellaneous Works of John Dryden, […], volume IV, London: […] J[acob] and R[ichard] Tonson, […], published 1760, →OCLC, page 415

present singular third person ons · participle present oning · participle present onning · participle past oned · past oned · participle past onned · past onned

1. MalaysiaNigeriaPhilippinesSingaporecolloquialtransitiveTo switch on.

   Can you on the light?

   Synonyms: turn on

alternative ohn

1. ScotlandUKdialectalWithout.

1. In the Japanese language, a pronunciation, or reading, of a kanji character that was originally based on the character's pronunciation in Chinese, contrasted with kun.

   Most kanji have two kinds of reading, called "on" and "kun".

1. abbreviationinitialismhuman sciencesInitialism of Old Norse.
2. abbreviationAbbreviation of Ontario: a province of Canada.

1. Synonym of Heliopolis (“ancient Egyptian city”).

   Synonyms: Heliopolis