pronunciation note: The preposition is pronounced (ɒn). The adverb and the adjective are pronounced (ɒn).In addition to the uses shown below, on is used after some verbs, nouns, and adjectives in order to introduce extra information.On is also used in phrasal verbs such as 'keep on', 'cotton on', and 'sign on'.
1. preposition
If someone or something is on a surface or object, the surface or object is immediately below them and is supporting their weight.
He is sitting beside her on the sofa.
On top of the cupboards are vast straw baskets which Pat uses for dried flower arrangements.
On the table were dishes piled high with sweets.
The cushions were soft blue to match the Chinese rug on the floor.
Synonyms: on top of, supported by, resting on, in contact with More Synonyms of on
2. preposition
If something is on a surface or object, it is stuck to it or attached to it.
I admired the peeling paint on the ceiling.
The clock on the wall showed one minute to twelve.
There was a smear of gravy on his chin.
On is also an adverb.
I know how to darn, and how to sew a button on.
3. preposition
If you put, throw, or drop something on a surface, you move it or drop it so that it is then supported by the surface.
He got his winter jacket from the closet and dropped it on the sofa.
He threw a folded dollar on the counter.
4. preposition
You use on to say what part of your body is supporting your weight.
He continued to lie on his back and look at clouds.
He raised himself on his elbows, squinting into the sun.
She was on her hands and knees in the bathroom.
5. preposition
You use on to say that someone or something touches a part of a person's body.
He leaned down and kissed her lightly on the mouth.
His jaw was broken after he was hit on the head.
6. preposition
If someone has a particular expression on their face, their face has that expression.
The maid looked at him, a nervous smile on her face.
She looked at him with a hurt expression on her face.
7. adverb [ADVERB after verb]
When you put a piece of clothing on, you place it over part of your body in order to wear it. If you have it on, you are wearing it.
He put his coat on while she opened the front door.
I had a hat on.
8. preposition
You can say that you have something on you if you are carrying it in your pocket or in a bag.
I didn't have any money on me.
I have those numbers, but not on me at the moment, they're at home.
9. preposition
If someone's eyes are on you, they are looking or staring at you.
Everyone's eyes were fixed on him.
It's as if all eyes are focused on me.
Ellen is eating, her eyes on her food.
10. preposition
If you hurt yourself on something, you accidentally hit a part of your body against it and that thing causes damage to you.
Mr Pendle hit his head on a wall as he fell.
She cut her hand on a broken glass.
11. preposition
If you are on an area of land, you are there.
He was able to spend only a few days at a time on the island.
You lived on the farm until you came back to America?
...a tall tree on a mountain.
...their winter retreat on Barbados.
I've eaten ostrich meat on the continent.
12. preposition
If something is situated on a place such as a road or coast, it forms part of it or is by the side of it.
The company has opened a men's store on Fifth Avenue.
The hotel is on the coast.
He visited relatives at their summer house on the river.
13. preposition
If you get on a bus, train, or plane, you go into it in order to travel somewhere. If you are on it, you are travelling in it.
We waited till twelve and we finally got on the plane.
I never go on the bus into the town.
His son came up with me to Birmingham every day on the train.
On is also an adverb.
He showed his ticket to the conductor and got on.
14. preposition
If there is something on a piece of paper, it has been written or printed there.
The writing on the back of the card was cramped but scrupulously neat.
The numbers she put on the chart were 98.4, 64, and 105.
How does a poem change when you read it out loud as opposed to it being on the page?
15. preposition
If something is on a list, it is included in it.
I've seen your name on the list of deportees.
Nutritionists placed certain seafood dishes on the list of foods to limit or avoid.
...the range of topics on the agenda for their talks.
16. preposition
Books, discussions, or ideas on a particular subject are concerned with that subject.
The longest chapter in almost any book on baby care is on feeding.
They offer a free counselling service which can offer help and advice on legal matters.
He declined to give any information on the Presidential election.
The ambassador's comments on the U.S. decision were relatively restrained.
17. preposition
You use on to introduce the method, principle, or system which is used to do something.
...a television that we bought on credit two months ago.
...a levelling system which acts on the same principle as a spirit level.
They want all groups to be treated on an equal basis.
18. preposition
If something is done on an instrument or a machine, it is done using that instrument or machine.
...songs that I could just sit down and play on the piano.
I could do all my work on the computer.
She sewed the dresses on the sewing machine.
19. preposition
If information is, for example, on tape or on computer, that is the way that it is stored.
Tourists try, and fail, to capture the view on film.
Descriptions of the pieces have been logged on computer by the Art Loss Register.
20. preposition
If something is being broadcast, you can say that it is on the radio or television.
Every sporting event on television and satellite over the next seven days is listed.
Here, listen, they're talking about it on Radio-Paris right now.
On is also an adjective.
...teenagers complaining there's nothing good on.
21. adjective [verb-link ADJECTIVE]
When an activity is taking place, you can say that it is on.
There's a marvellous match on at Wimbledon at the moment.
Every year they put a play on at Saint Holy Cross Church.
We in Berlin hardly knew a war was on during the early part of 1941.
22. adverb [ADVERB after verb]
You use on in expressions such as 'have a lot on' and 'not have very much on' to indicate how busy someone is.
[spoken]
I have a lot on in the next week.
23. preposition
You use on to introduce an activity that someone is doing, particularly travelling.
I've always wanted to go on a cruise.
They look happy and relaxed as they stroll in the sunshine on a shopping trip.
Students on the full-time course of study are usually sponsored.
He died suddenly while on a skiing holiday with his family in Val d'Isere.
24. adverb [beADVERB, ADVERB after verb]
When something such as a machine or an electric light is on, it is functioning or in use. When you switch it on, it starts functioning.
The light was on and the door was open.
The central heating's been turned off. I've turned it on again.
The light had been left on.
He didn't bother to switch on the light.
Synonyms: functioning, working, operating, in use More Synonyms of on
25. preposition
If you are on a committee or council, you are a member of it.
Claire and Beryl were on the organizing committee.
He was on the Council of Foreign Relations.
26. preposition
You can indicate when something happens by saying that it happens on a particular day or date.
This year's event will take place on June 19th, a week earlier than usual.
She travels to Korea on Monday.
I was born on Christmas day.
Dr. Keen arrived about seven on Sunday morning.
27. preposition
You use on when mentioning an event that was followed by another one.
She waited in her hotel to welcome her children on their arrival from London.
On reaching Dubai, the evacuees are taken straight to Dubai international airport.
28. adverb [ADVERB after verb]
You use on to say that someone is continuing to do something.
They walked on in silence for a while.
If the examination shows your company enjoys basically good health, read on.
He happened to be in England when the war broke out and he just stayed on.
29. adverb [beADVERB, ADVERB after verb]
If you say that someone goes onat you, you mean that they continually criticize you, complain to you, or ask you to do something.
She's been on at me for weeks to show her round the stables. [+ at]
He used to keep on at me about the need to win. [+ at]
He'll go on at me for telling.
She hadn't learned to drive, but she had kept going on at him to let her try.
30. adverb [from n ADV]
You use on in expressions such as from now on and from then on to indicate that something starts to happen at the time mentioned and continues tohappen afterwards.
Perhaps it would be best not to see much of you from now on.
We can expect trouble from this moment on.
Morrison took the news badly and from then on his spirits noticeably sagged.
31. adverb [adv ADV]
You often use on after the adverbs 'early', 'late', 'far', and their comparative forms, especially at the beginning or end of a sentence, or before a preposition.
The market square is a riot of colour and animation from early on in the morning.
Later on I learned how to read music.
The pub where I had arranged to meet Nobby was a good five minutes walk further on.
32. preposition
Someone who is on a drug takes it regularly.
She was on antibiotics for an eye infection that wouldn't go away.
Many of the elderly are on medication.
33. preposition
If you live on a particular kind of food, you eat it. If a machine runs on a particular kind of power or fuel, it uses it in order to function.
The caterpillars feed on a wide range of trees, shrubs and plants.
He lived on a diet of water and tinned fish.
The system could be used to ensure that cars are converted to run on unleaded petrol.
...making and selling vehicles that run on batteries or fuel-cells.
34. preposition
If you are on a particular income, that is the income that you have.
...young people who are unemployed or on low wages.
He's on three hundred a week.
You won't be rich as an MP, but you'll have enough to live on.
35. preposition
Taxes or profits that are obtained from something are referred to as taxes or profits on it.
...a general strike to protest a tax on food and medicine last week.
The Church was to receive a cut of the profits on every record sold.
Loans were extended to help pay the interest on the old ones.
36. preposition
When you buy something or pay for something, you spend money on it.
I resolved not to waste money on a hotel.
He spent more on feeding the dog than he spent on feeding himself.
More money should be spent on education and housing.
37. preposition
When you spend time or energy on a particular activity, you spend time or energy doing it.
People complain about how children spend so much time on computer games.
You all know why I am here. So I won't waste time on preliminaries.
...the opportunity to concentrate more time and energy on America's domestic agenda.
38.
See not on/just not on
39.
See on and on
40.
See what sb is (going) on about
41.
See know what sb is on about
42.
See have sth on sb
43. on behalf of
44. on and off
45. and so on
46. on top of
More Synonyms of on
English Easy Learning GrammarPrepositionsA preposition is one of a small but very common group of words that relate differentitems to each other. Most English prepositions have a number of meanings ... Read more
on in British English
(ɒn)
preposition
1.
in contact or connection with the surface of; at the upper surface of
an apple on the ground
a mark on the table cloth
2.
attached to
a puppet on a string
3.
carried with
I've no money on me
4.
in the immediate vicinity of; close to or along the side of
a house on the sea
this verges on the ridiculous!
5.
within the time limits of a day or date
we arrived on Thursday
6.
being performed upon or relayed through the medium of
what's on television?
7.
at the occasion of
on my retirement
8.
used to indicate support, subsistence, contingency, etc
they live on bread
it depends on what you want
9.
a.
regularly taking (a drug)
she's on the pill
b.
addicted to
he's on heroin
10.
by means of (something considered as a mode of transport) (esp in such phrases as on foot, on wheels, on horseback, etc)
11.
in the process or course of
on a journey
on strike
12.
concerned with or relating to
a tax on potatoes
a programme on archaeology
13.
used to indicate the basis, grounds, or cause, as of a statement or action
I have it on good authority
14.
against: used to indicate opposition
they marched on the city at dawn
15.
used to indicate a meeting or encounter
he crept up on her
16. (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
17. informal
a.
staked or wagered as a bet
ten pounds on that horse
b.
charged to
the drinks are on me
18. (usually followed by it) Australian
drinking alcoholic liquor
19. informal or dialect
to the loss or disadvantage of
the old car gave out on us
adverb(often used as a particle)
20.
in the position or state required for the commencement or sustained continuation, as of a mechanical operation
the radio's been on all night
21.
attached to, surrounding, or placed in contact with something
the girl had no shoes on
22.
taking place
what's on tonight?
23.
in a manner indicating continuity, persistence, concentration, etc
don't keep on about it
the play went on all afternoon
24.
in a direction towards something, esp forwards; so as to make progress
we drove on towards Lagos
march on!
25. on and off
26. on and on
adjective
27.
functioning; operating
turn the switch to the on position
28. (postpositive) informal
a.
performing, as on stage
I'm on in five minutes
b.
definitely taking place
the match is on for Friday
their marriage is still on
c.
tolerable, practicable, acceptable, etc
your plan just isn't on
d.
(of a person) willing to do something
29. on at
30. cricket
(of a bowler) bowling
noun
31. cricket
a. (modifier)
relating to or denoting the leg side of a cricket field or pitch
the on side
an on drive
b. (in combination)
used to designate certain fielding positions on the leg side
long-on
mid-on
Word origin
Old English an, on; related to Old Saxon an, Old High German, Gothic ana
On in British English
(ɒn)
noun
the ancient Egyptian and biblical name for Heliopolis
ON in British English
abbreviation for
1.
Old Norse
2.
(esp in postal addresses) Ontario
-on in British English
suffix forming nouns
1.
indicating a chemical substance
interferon
parathion
2.
(in physics) indicating an elementary particle or quantum
electron
photon
3.
(in chemistry) indicating an inert gas
neon
radon
4.
(in biochemistry) a molecular unit
codon
operon
Word origin
from ion
ON in American English
1.
Old Norse
2.
Ontario
On in American English
(ɑn)
Bible
Heliopolis
on in American English
(ɑn; ɔn)
preposition
1.
in a position above, but in contact with and supported by; upon
2.
in contact with (any surface); covering or attached to
3.
so as to be supported by
leaning on his elbow
4.
in the surface of
a scar on the body
5.
a.
near to; by
a cottage on the lake, seated on my right
b.
having as its location
a house on Main Street
c.
assigned to work at or in
on the maternity ward, on the switchboard
6.
at or during the time of
on entering, on the first day
7.
having a basis of or having its ground in (something specified)
based on her diary, on purpose
8.
connected with as a part or member
on the faculty
9.
engaged in
on a trip
10.
in the state or condition of
on parole, on fire
11.
in a (specified) manner
chiefly archaic except in phrases with the
on the sly
12.
as a result of
a profit on the sale
13.
in the direction or vicinity of
light shone on us
14.
so as to affect
to put a curse on someone
15.
regularly following (a regimen), ingesting (medicine), etc., as to promote good health
is the meeting still on?会(會)议(議)还(還)在进(進)行吗(嗎)？ (huìyì hái zài jìnxíng ma?)
there's a good film on at the cinema电(電)影院正在上映一部好电(電)影 (diànyǐngyuàn zhèngzài shàngyìng yī bù hǎo diànyǐng)
the weather forecast will be on in a minute马(馬)上就有天气(氣)预(預)报(報) (mǎshàng jiù yǒu tiānqì yùbào)
(inf)
that's not on!那可不行！ (nà kě bùxíng!)
All related terms of 'on'
go on
( continue ) 继(繼)续(續) jìxù
on TV
在电(電)视(視)上播放 zài diànshì shang bōfàng
act on
( advice, information ) 根据(據) ... 行动(動) gēnjù ... xíngdòng ⇒ The police are acting on information received last night. → 警察正根据昨晚收到的情报采取行动。 Jǐngchá zhèng gēnjù zuówǎn shōudào de qíngbào cǎiqǔ xíngdòng.
add on
附加 fùjiā ⇒ They add on 9 per cent for service. → 他们附加9%的服务费。 Tāmen fùjiā bǎi fēn zhī jiǔ de fúwùfèi.
bank on
( rely on ) 指望 zhǐwang
call on
( visit ) 拜访(訪) bàifǎng
cast on
起针(針) qǐzhēn
come on
( progress : pupil, work, project ) 进(進)展 jìnzhǎn
dawn on
▶ it dawned on me/him that ... 我/他逐渐(漸)意识(識)到 ... wǒ/tā zhújiàn yìshi dào
drag on
( meeting, concert, war ) 拖延 tuōyán
draw on
( resources draw upon 凭(憑)借 píngjiè ⇒ The company drew on its vast resources to fund the project. → 公司凭借其大量的资源为这个项目提供资金。 Gōngsī píngjiè qí dàliàng de zīyuán wèi zhège xiàngmù tígōng zījīn.
egg on
( in fight etc ) 怂(慫)恿 sǒngyǒng
feed on
( live on ) 以 ... 为(為)食 yǐ ... wéi shí ⇒ Not all bats feed on insects. → 不是所有的蝙蝠都以昆虫为食物。 Bùshì suǒyǒu de biānfú dōu yǐ kūnchóng wéi shíwù.
get on
( be friends ) 和睦相处(處) hémù xiāngchǔ
grow on
▶ to grow on sb 越来(來)越为(為)某人喜欢(歡) yuèláiyuè wéi mǒurén xǐhuan ⇒ That painting is growing on me. → 我越来越喜欢那幅画。 Wǒ yuèláiyuè xǐhuan nà fú huà.
hang on
( wait ) 稍等 shāoděng
have on
( clothes ) 穿着(著) chuānzhe
hold on
( keep hold ) 抓牢 zhuāláo ⇒ The rope was wet, but Nancy held on. → 绳子湿了，但南希仍然牢牢地抓着。 Shéngzi shī le, dàn Nánxī réngrán láoláo de zhuāzhe.
keep on
▶ to keep on doing sth 继(繼)续(續)做某事 jìxù zuò mǒushì ⇒ They kept on walking for a while in silence. → 他们继续走了一会儿，谁都没说话。 Tāmen jìxù zǒule yīhuìr, shuí dōu méi shuōhuà.
lay on
( meal, entertainment etc ) 提供 tígōng ⇒ Mrs Kaul had laid on dinner. → 考尔太太设了宴席。 Kǎo'ěr tàitai shèle yànxí.
lead on
( deceive : person ) 劝(勸)诱(誘) quànyòu ⇒ I bet she led him on. → 我想她一定引诱他了。 Wǒ xiǎng tā yīdìng yǐnyòu tā le.
lean on
( rest against : person, object ) 倚 yǐ
let on
▶ not to let on that ... 不泄(洩)露出去 ... bù xièlòu chūqù ...
live on
( money ) 靠 ... 维(維)持生活 kào ... wéichí shēnghuó ⇒ I don't have enough money to live on. → 我的钱不够维持生活。 Wǒ de qián bù gòu wéichí shēnghuó.
look on
( watch ) 旁观(觀) pángguān
move on
( leave ) 启(啟)程前往 qǐchéng qiánwǎng ⇒ After three weeks in Hong Kong, we moved on to Japan. → 在香港逗留了3个星期后，我们启程前往日本。 Zài Xiānggǎng dòuliú le sān gè xīngqī hòu, wǒmen qǐchéng qiánwǎng Rìběn.
on bail
( prisoner ) 保释(釋)中 bǎoshì zhōng
on cue
( at the expected time ) 就在这(這)时(時) jiù zài zhèshí
on edge
紧(緊)张(張)不安 jǐnzhāng bù'ān
on fire
起火 qǐhuǒ
on foot
步行 bùxíng
on show
( exhibits ) 在展览(覽)中 zài zhǎnlǎn zhōng
on tap
( inf : resources, information ) 现(現)成的 xiànchéng de