DictionaryAI

online

AWN-lyn/ˈɔnlaɪn/UKON-lyn/ˈɒnlaɪn/

7 meanings of online

Practice

  1. 1
    on the webadjective
    Offered or delivered to you through the Internet.

    Like a shop that comes to your screen instead of you walking to it.

    She bought the concert tickets from an online store.

    The whole course is online, so you can take it from home.

    UsageUsually comes before a noun: an online store, an online class.

    Similardigital

    Oppositeoffline

    Note
  2. 2
    adverb
    While connected to the Internet, or while a machine or system is running and working.

    You can pay all your bills online these days.

    They met online before they ever met in person.

    UsagePut it after the action: pay online, meet online.

    Similarelectronically

    Oppositeoffline

    Note
  3. 3
    adjective
    Connected to the Internet or another computer network.

    Like a phone that has a signal and can reach anyone.

    My laptop is online now, so I can check my email.

    We stayed online all evening to watch videos together.

    UsageOften go online or be online.

  4. 4
    working (machines)adjective
    Working and ready to use, or, for a power station, sending power to the grid.

    The backup generator came online minutes after the blackout hit.

    Once the new plant is online, the city will have extra power.

    UsageThings come online when they start working; people bring them online.

    Note

Less common meanings

  1. 5
    Internet-obsessedadjectiveslang
    Spending so much time on the Internet that it shapes how a person thinks and talks.

    He's so online that every joke he makes points to some obscure meme.

    My cousin is terminally online and quotes forum threads at dinner.

    UsageMost often in extremely online or terminally online.

    Note
  2. 6
    on the deviceadjective
    Stored on a computer so you can use it, even with no Internet.

    The newest records stay online, and older ones are stored on tapes.

    The office keeps this year's files online and older files in the archive.

  3. 7
    switch onverbtransitive
    To start up a system so it becomes active and ready to use.

    Like flipping a switch to turn a big machine on.

    The team will online the new server so people can use it.

    You must online the new disk before you can save files to it.

    Similaractivate, enable

    Oppositedeactivate, disable

    Note

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of online apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

Made from the words "on" and "line," and used for connected machines from 1950.