on

(adjective, verb, adverb, preposition)

adjective

1. in operation or operational

- left the oven on

- the switch is in the on position

Similar word(s): connected

2. (of events) planned or scheduled

- the picnic is on, rain or shine

- we have nothing on for Friday night

Sentences with on as an adjective:

- Are we still on for tonight?

- Is the show still on?

- right on; bang on; not on

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

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

adverb

1. with a forward motion

- we drove along admiring the view

- the horse trotted along at a steady pace

- the circus traveled on to the next city

Similar word(s): along

2. indicates continuity or persistence or concentration

- his spirit lives on

- shall I read on?

3. in a state required for something to function or be effective

- turn the lights on

- get a load on

Sentences with on as an adverb:

- turn the television on

- drive on, rock on

- and so on.

- He rambled on and on.

- Ten years on nothing had changed in the village.

preposition

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

- on the table;

2. At or near; adjacent to.

- Soon we'll pass a statue on the left.

- The fleet is on the American coast.

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

3. Covering.

- He wore old shoes on his feet.

4. At the date of.

- Born on the 4th of July.

5. Some time during the day of.

- I'll see you on Monday.

6. Dealing with the subject of, about, or concerning something.

- A book on history.

7. Touching; hanging from.

- The fruit ripened on the trees.

8. (informal) In the possession of.

- I haven't got any money on me.

9. Because of, or due to.

- To arrest someone on suspicion of bribery.

10. Immediately after.

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

11. Paid for by.

- The drinks are on me tonight, boys.

12. Used to indicate a means or medium.

- I saw it on television.

13. Indicating a means of subsistence.

- They lived on ten dollars a week.

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

- He's on his lunch break.

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

- to play on a violin or piano

- Her words made a lasting impression on my mind.

16. ​ Regularly taking (a drug).

- You've been on these antidepressants far too long.

17. ​ Under the influence of (a drug).

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

18. (mathematics) Having identical domain and codomain.

- a function on V

19. (mathematics) Having as domain and V as codomain, for some set V and integer n.

- an operator on V

20. (mathematics) Generated by.

- the free group on four letters

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

- A table can't stand on two legs.

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

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

24. Indicating dependence or reliance; with confidence in.

- I depended on them for assistance.

- He will promise on certain conditions.

- Do you ever bet on horses?

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

- Have pity or compassion on him.

26. (obsolete) At the peril of, or for the safety of.

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

- He is on a newspaper; I am on the committee.

28. By virtue of; with the pledge of.

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

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

- On us be all the blame.

- A curse on him!

30. (Britain dialectal, Scotland) Without.

verb

1. (transitive, Singapore) To switch on.

- Can you on the light?