on

Less common meanings

14. 14
    operatingadjective

    Of a machine, light, tap, or supply, active, functioning, or operating.

    The engine was still on when we found the car.

    Leave the porch light on for me.

    UsageAfter be or leave: the light's on, leave the heating on. For the action, use turn on.

    Similarrunning, operating

    Oppositeoff

    Note

    A state rather than a movement: the switching adverb is the change, and this is what holds afterward. You turn the television on, and from then on it is on. Its partner is off, and people read the pair from the outside as easily as from the switch. The windows are lit and the TV is on, so someone is in.

15. 15
    operatingadverb

    Into an operating state; into action.

    The street lamps come on at dusk.

    Click the icon to turn the sound on.

    UsageWith turn, switch and come: turn on the light (not incorrect: open the light), the lamps come on.

    Oppositeoff

16. 16
    preposition

    Aboard a means of transport, especially public transport or one you sit astride or stand on, such as a bike.

    I read the whole novel on the plane.

    He came to the wedding on a motorbike.

    UsageOn a bus, train, plane, ship or bike, but in a car or taxi.

    Similaraboard

    Oppositeoff

17. 17
    adjective

    Fitted or in place, being worn, or covering something.

    Make sure the cap is on before you shake the bottle.

    He still had his boots on in bed.

    UsageAfter be, or after the noun: Is the lid on?, She had her coat on, with his boots on.

    Oppositeoff

    Note

    The result of putting something on. Once the fastening adverb has done its work, the socks pulled on and the top screwed on, they simply are on. Context separates it from the switched-on meaning. The lid is on describes a fit; the oven is on describes a working state.

18. 18
    after put or pulladverb

    So as to cover something or be fitted into place.

    She pulled her boots on and went out.

    The handle was glued on, not screwed on, so it soon came loose.

    UsageWith a noun, either order: put on your hat or put your hat on; with a pronoun, put it on (not incorrect: put on it).

    Oppositeoff

    Note

    Here the word does the work of dressing and fastening, and it can stand before or after a noun object of the verb: pull on your boots, or pull your boots on. With a pronoun, say pull them on. The state that results is the "being worn" adjective: the hat is on.

19. 19
    medicationpreposition

    Taking a medicine or drug, either regularly as a course or at a particular time, or under its effects.

    Are you on any medication at the moment?

    She's been on the same inhaler for years.

    UsageOn + a drug or treatment: on antibiotics. A doctor puts someone on a drug or takes them off it.

    Oppositeoff

    Note

    Medical English uses it to describe a regimen. The phrase is neutral in that use. In on crack or high on something, the same preposition marks being under the influence rather than following a prescribed course.

20. 20
    means of livingpreposition

    Used before a food, a sum of money or another resource to show what someone lives or keeps going on.

    Many retirees get by on a small pension.

    The climbers kept going on chocolate and dried fruit until they reached the hut.

    UsageUsually after live, survive or get by: live on a small pension, survive on rice.

    Note

    The same idea powered the Egg Marketing Board's 1950s British slogan Go to work on an egg, meaning start the day fueled by one. Source

    Checked 3 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

    • The Egg Marketing Board used the British advertising slogan “Go to work on an egg”. britisheggindustrycouncil.com
    • The slogan dates from the 1950s. egginfo.co.uk
    • The slogan encouraged eating an egg for breakfast to start the working day. en.wikipedia.org
21. 21
    preposition

    Used to name the part of someone or something that is holding it up.

    The old chair wobbles because it stands on three good legs and one cracked one.

    She did push-ups on her knees until her arms got stronger.

    UsageOften after stand, walk or balance, usually with his, her, my: on her knees, on his toes.

22. 22
    adjective

    Taking place, or planned and going ahead as arranged.

    Despite the storm warnings, Saturday's match is still on.

    With a big sale on at the hardware store, the parking lot was full by nine.

    UsageAfter be: the match is still on. Also there's a sale on and what's on tonight?

    Similarhappening

    Oppositeoff

    Note

    Of a broadcast it means being shown, now or at a set time, and you're on next tells a performer their turn comes after this act.

23. 23
    preposition

    Because of, or by reason of, especially something not yet confirmed.

    She refused on principle.

    The police searched the house on a tip-off.

    UsageOften in set phrases: on principle, on a tip-off, on suspicion of theft, on someone's orders.

24. 24
    carriedprepositioncolloquial

    In the possession of someone; carried about one's person.

    Sorry, I don't have my card on me.

    The guard found a phone on the prisoner.

    UsageWith me, him, her: I don't have any cash on me.

    Similarwith

25. 25
    pity or lovepreposition

    Marking the person or thing toward which a feeling is directed.

    The old man doted on his youngest daughter.

    Lord, have mercy on us.

    UsageAfter dote, have mercy and take pity: dote on a child, have pity on someone.

    Similarupon

26. 26
    challenge acceptedadjectivecolloquial

    Used of a person who has made a proposal or challenge, to say that it is accepted; the subject is most often you.

    "Loser buys lunch?" "You're on."

    Tell your brother that if he still wants that chess game tonight, he's on.

27. 27
    piling uppreposition

    Indicating that something is added to something else or follows it in a series.

    Blow on blow fell on the gate until it splintered.

    Layer on layer of paint had built up over the years.

    UsageNoun + on + the same noun, with no article: layer on layer, blow on blow. Upon is also common.

    Similarupon, after

28. 28
    preposition

    Having reached a particular point in a series or sequence.

    The runners are on their final lap.

    What page are you on?

    UsageCommon in what page are you on?, on the last lap, on my third coffee.

29. 29
    preposition

    At a precise instant, or at the point just before something happens.

    The train left on the dot of nine.

    The company is on the brink of collapse.

    UsageSet phrases: on time, on the dot, on the brink of. On time means not late; in time means early enough.

30. 30
    adverb

    Later, after a stated amount of time has gone by.

    Five years on from the merger, the company has doubled in size.

    Decades on, people still argue about who really won that election.

    UsageAfter a stretch of time, often with from: ten years on, five years on from the merger.

    Similarlater

    Oppositeearlier

31. 31
    who payspreposition

    Paid for by, or at the expense of, someone.

    Put it on my tab, this round is on me.

    The taxi was on expenses.

    UsageCommon in it's on me, on the house and on expenses.

32. 32
    acceptableadjectivecolloquialUK

    Acceptable or appropriate, used mostly in the negative to object to something.

    Charging pensioners for a basic bus pass is simply not on.

    Leaving your rubbish on the train for someone else to clear up really isn't on.

    UsageUsually with not, often with just or simply: that's just not on.

    Similaracceptable, right

    Oppositeunacceptable

    Note

    Chiefly a British way of saying that behavior crosses a line, heard in complaints like it's just not on.

33. 33
    promise bypreposition

    Used to name what backs a promise or claim, such as one's word or honor, either as its pledge or its authority.

    The mayor promised on his honor to resign if the audit found any fraud.

    The neighbors lent him the money on his word alone.

    UsageSet phrases: on my honor, on my word, on oath.

34. 34
    list or menupreposition

    Used to show that someone or something appears among the entries of a list, schedule, agenda, or menu.

    The budget is the first item on the agenda for Monday's meeting.

    Two of the songs on tonight's program were written by local students.

    Oppositeoff

35. 35
    preposition

    Used before certain nouns, such as fire, sale, display, or loan, to describe the state or condition someone or something is in.

    The painting is on loan from a museum in Madrid until next spring.

    Her old sketchbooks are now on display in the library's front hall.

36. 36
    preposition

    In opposition to, especially when stating how many fighters or competitors are on each side.

    The fight in the alley was three on one, so he never stood a chance.

    The last drill was full-court, five on five, with the starters facing the bench.

    UsageNumber + on + number: three on one, five on five.

    Similaragainst, versus

37. 37
    adjective

    Turned to face whoever is looking, or some stated way, as when an object is seen side on or end on.
38. 38
    adjective

    Able to be done or pulled off successfully.
39. 39
    adjective

    Still to be had or left over.
40. 40
    adjectivecolloquial

    Of a baseball runner, safely at a base and waiting for the next batter to move them along.
41. 41
    adjective

    In cricket, in the leg side half of the field, which lies to a right-handed batter's left.
42. 42
    adjective

    Of a snooker ball, being one the rules allow a player to hit first or pot next.
43. 43
    adjective

    Speaking and behaving as the character one is playing.
44. 44
    adjectivecolloquial

    Behaving in a showy, attention-seeking or joking way that tires other people out.
45. 45
    adjective

    Having a menstrual period.
46. 46
    adverb

    Of betting odds, showing the outcome is more likely than not.
47. 47
    adverb

    Of a snooker ball, into a spot from which it can be potted.
48. 48
    preposition

    Toward a stated part of a ship, within 45 degrees of it, as in 'on the port bow'.
49. 49
    preposition

    Used after verbs like push, pull or press to name the object receiving the force.
50. 50
    preposition

    Used after verbs like hit, rub or scratch to name what is struck or touched.
51. 51
    prepositionUK

    At a stated point after something has started, as in 'scored on twenty minutes'.
52. 52
    preposition

    Having come into someone's presence, or coming upon them.
53. 53
    prepositionIreland

    Used to show who is feeling hunger, cold, thirst or an emotion, as in 'the hunger on him'.
54. 54
    prepositioncolloquial

    Short for 'I swear on', as in 'on my life' or 'on God'.
55. 55
    preposition

    Judged by a particular view or system, showing what would follow if it were assumed correct.
56. 56
    preposition

    Of a snooker player, in a position to pot a particular ball.
57. 57
    preposition

    Of a function, mapping a set into that same set, so its domain and codomain match.
58. 58
    preposition

    Of an operation, taking n elements of a set V as inputs and returning an element of V.
59. 59
    preposition

    Built up from a given set of generators, as in 'the free group on two letters'.
60. 60
    prepositionrare

    Used to express division, as in 'six on three'.
61. 61
    prepositionobsolete

    Used in place of 'of', as in 'a friend on mine'.

    Be not jealous on me.

    1599, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”
62. 62
    prepositionobsolete

    With something put at risk, or to keep it safe, as in 'on your life, don't open that door'.
63. 63
    verbcolloquialMalaysiaNigeriaPhilippinesSingapore

    To make a light, machine or device start working.
64. 64
    noun

    In Japanese, a way of pronouncing a kanji that derives from how the Chinese once said it, as opposed to the native kun reading.