Meaning of on in English | Powered by Free Dictionary API

verb

• To switch on

  Example: Can you on the light?

adjective

• In the state of being active, functioning or operating.

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

• Performing according to schedule; taking place.

  Example: Are we still on for tonight?

• Fitted; covering; being worn.

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

• (usually negative) Acceptable, appropriate.

  Example: You can't do that; it's just not on.

• Destined, normally in the context of a challenge being accepted; involved, doomed.

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

• Having reached a base as a runner and being positioned there, awaiting further action from a subsequent batter.

• Within the half of the field on the same side as the batsman's legs; the left side for a right-handed batsman.

  Example: Ponsonby-Smythe hit a thumping on drive.

• Menstruating.

adverb

• To an operating state.

  Example: turn the television on

• So as to cover or be fitted.

  Example: Put on your hat and gloves.

• Along, forwards (continuing an action).

  Example: drive on, rock on

• In continuation, at length.

  Example: He rambled on and on.

• (obsolete in the US) Later.

  Example: Ten years on, nothing had changed in the village.

• Of betting odds, denoting a better-than-even chance. See also odds-on.

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

preposition

• Positioned at the upper surface of, touching from above.

  Example: A vase of flowers stood on the table.

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

  Example: He had a scar on the side of his face.

• Expressing figurative placement or attachment.

  Example: All of the responsibility is on him.

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

  Example: to play on a violin or piano

• At or in (a certain region or location).

  Example: The lighthouse that you can see is on the mainland.

• Near; adjacent to; alongside.

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

• Supported by (the specified part of itself).

  Example: A table can't stand on two legs.

• So as to impart force to.

  Example: tug on the rope; push hard on the door

• So as to impact; against.

  Example: I stubbed my toe on an old tree stump.

• Covering.

  Example: He wore old shoes on his feet.

• (with certain modes of transport, especially public transport) Inside (a vehicle) for the purpose of travelling.

  Example: on a bus, on a train, on a plane

• At the date of.

  Example: Born on the 4th of July.

• Some time during the day of.

  Example: Can I see you on a different day?

• At a given time after the start of something; at.

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

• Dealing with the subject of; about; concerning.

  Example: I have no opinion on this subject.

• In the possession of.

  Example: I haven't got any money on me.

• Because of, or due to.

  Example: to arrest someone on suspicion of bribery

• Upon; at the time of (and often because of).

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

• Paid for by.

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

• Indicating a means or medium.

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

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

  Example: Her words made a lasting impression on my mind.

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

  Example: Have pity or compassion on him.

• Indicating a means of subsistence.

  Example: The dog survived three weeks on rainwater.

• Away or occupied with (e.g. a scheduled activity).

  Example: He's on his lunch break.

• Regularly taking (a drug).

  Example: He's acting so strangely, I think he must be on something.

• Under the influence of (a drug).

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

• Having identical domain and codomain.

  Example: a function on

• Having V^n as domain and V as codomain, for some set V and integer n.

  Example: an operator on

• Generated by.

  Example: the free group on four letters

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

  Example: heaps on heaps of food

• Of

• Indicating dependence or reliance; with confidence in.

  Example: He will promise on certain conditions.

• At the peril of, or for the safety of.

• In the service of; connected with; of the number of.

  Example: He is on a newspaper; I am on the committee.

• By virtue of; with the pledge of.

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

• To the account or detriment of; denoting imprecation or invocation, or coming to, falling, or resting upon.

  Example: A curse on him!

• (especially when numbers of combatants or competitors are specified) Against; in opposition to.

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

preposition

• Without.

noun

• 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.

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