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on

adj, adv, prep and 2 more — 71 senses

on

adj

NZ, UK /ɒn/ · AU, UK, SC /ɔn/

Etymology

From Middle English on, from Old English on, an (“on, upon, onto, in, into”), from Proto-West Germanic *ana, from Proto-Germanic *ana (“on, at”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂en- (“on, onto”). Cognates Cognate with Yola a, an, ana, on (“on”), Saterland Frisian an (“on; at”), West Frisian oan (“on; to, towards”), Cimbrian aan, å (“on, onto”), Dutch aan (“on; at”), Low German an (“on; at, to”), German an (“at, in; on”), Luxembourgish un (“on; at, to”), Yiddish אָן (on, “on, onward”), Danish, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish å (“on”), Elfdalian ą̊ (“on”), Faroese and Icelandic á (“in; on”), Gothic 𐌰𐌽𐌰 (ana, “at, on”); also Umbrian 𐌀𐌌- (am-), 𐌀𐌍- (an-, “up, upon”), Ancient Greek ἀνά (aná, “on, upon”) (whence Greek ανά (aná, “by, through, per”)), Albanian në (“in; on”), Latvian no (“from; out of; for; of; with”), Lithuanian nuo (“from, off; for, of”), Belarusian, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Russian, and Ukrainian на (na, “on”), Czech, Polish, Slovak, and Slovene na (“on”), Serbo-Croatian на, na (“on”), Old Armenian ան- (an-, “at, on, unto”); and from Old Norse upp á: Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, and Swedish på (“on”), Norwegian Nynorsk paa, på (“on”), see upon.

14 senses
  1. 1In the state of being active, functioning or operating.
  2. 2Happening; taking place; being or due to be put into action.
  3. 3Of a person, used to express agreement to or acceptance…
  4. 4Fitted; covering or being worn.
  5. 5Of a stated part of something, oriented towards the…
  6. 6Acceptable, appropriate.
  7. 7Possible; capable of being successfully carried out.
  8. 8Available; remaining.
  9. 9Having reached a base as a runner and being positioned…
  10. 10Within the half of the field on the same side as the…
  11. 11Of a ball, being the next in sequence to be potted…
  12. 12Acting in character.
  13. 13Performative or funny in a wearying manner.
  14. 14Menstruating.
1

In the state of being active, functioning or operating.

  • All the lights are on, so they must be home.
2

Happening; taking place; being or due to be put into action.

  • We had to ration our food because there was a war on.
  • Some of the cast went down with flu, but the show's still on.
4 more examples
  • That TV programme that you wanted to watch is on now.
  • This is her last song. You're on next!
  • Are we still on for tonight?
  • Mike just threw coffee onto Paul's lap. It's on now.
3

Informal Of a person, used to express agreement to or acceptance of a proposal or challenge made by that person; most commonly with subject "you" (see you're on).

  • "Five bucks says the Cavs win tonight." ―"You're on!"
  • If he wants a fight, he's on!
4

Fitted; covering or being worn.

  • Your feet will soon warm up once your socks are on.
  • I was trying to drink out of the bottle while the top was still on!
5

Postpositional Of a stated part of something, oriented towards the viewer or other specified direction.

  • The photograph shows the UFO side on.
  • edge on, side on, end on, face on
6

UK, Informal, In the negative Acceptable, appropriate.

  • It's not fair to do that – it's just not on.
  • This kind of over-packaging of goods is completely not on.1998 May 22, Phoenix Gamma, “If I was owned Nintendo...”, in alt.games.video.nintendo-64 (Usenet):
1 more example
  • so Simon Nelson saying on Feedback "we'd prefer it if everybody listened to digital radio via DAB" is completely not on at all.2003 August 12, DAB sounds worse than FM, “Gerg Dyke's Speech at Radio Festival”, in alt.radio.digital (Usenet):
7

In the negative Possible; capable of being successfully carried out.

  • Climbing up that steep ridge isn't on. We'll have to find another route.
  • He'd like to play the red next to the black spot, but that shot isn't on.
8

Available; remaining.

  • Smith is 25 points ahead with only 23 on.
9

Ball games, Baseball, Games, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Sports Informal Having reached a base as a runner and being positioned there, awaiting further action from a subsequent batter.

  • With one out and no men on, Tristen Carranza belted a ball to the opposite field for a solo home run to put the NM State deficit at just 2-1.2019 February 24, Chris Kennedy, “Aggies Earn Series Win Over Yale in Sunday Finale”, in New Mexico State University Athletics:
  • Although Stanford was outhit 15-6, the Cardinal stranded eight runners to UCLA's three, hitting just 3-15 with runners on compared to the Bruin's 9-22.2019 April 6, Daniel Martinez-Krams, “Baseball Falls Short in Game 2 of UCLA Series”, in The Stanford Daily:
10

Ball games, Cricket, Games, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Sports Within the half of the field on the same side as the batsman's legs; the left side for a right-handed batsman.

  • The captain moved two fielders to the on side.
  • Ponsonby-Smythe hit a thumping on drive.
11

Ball games, Games, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Snooker, Sports Postpositional Of a ball, being the next in sequence to be potted, according to the rules of the game.

  • If the player fails to hit the ball on, it's a foul.
12

Acting, Broadcasting, Drama, Dramaturgy, Entertainment, Film, Lifestyle, Media, Television, Theater Acting in character.

Roleplaying games

13

Informal, Of a person Performative or funny in a wearying manner.

  • He always has to be on, it's so exhausting.
14

Euphemistic Menstruating.

  • It still gets in the way of her doing things like swimming, and she avoids sleepovers when she's "on".2011, Hollie Smith Netmums, You and Your Tween: Managing the years from 9 to 13, Hachette, →ISBN:
Synonyms
on base

on

adv
Etymology

From Middle English on, from Old English on, an (“on, upon, onto, in, into”), from Proto-West Germanic *ana, from Proto-Germanic *ana (“on, at”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂en- (“on, onto”). Cognates Cognate with Yola a, an, ana, on (“on”), Saterland Frisian an (“on; at”), West Frisian oan (“on; to, towards”), Cimbrian aan, å (“on, onto”), Dutch aan (“on; at”), Low German an (“on; at, to”), German an (“at, in; on”), Luxembourgish un (“on; at, to”), Yiddish אָן (on, “on, onward”), Danish, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish å (“on”), Elfdalian ą̊ (“on”), Faroese and Icelandic á (“in; on”), Gothic 𐌰𐌽𐌰 (ana, “at, on”); also Umbrian 𐌀𐌌- (am-), 𐌀𐌍- (an-, “up, upon”), Ancient Greek ἀνά (aná, “on, upon”) (whence Greek ανά (aná, “by, through, per”)), Albanian në (“in; on”), Latvian no (“from; out of; for; of; with”), Lithuanian nuo (“from, off; for, of”), Belarusian, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Russian, and Ukrainian на (na, “on”), Czech, Polish, Slovak, and Slovene na (“on”), Serbo-Croatian на, na (“on”), Old Armenian ան- (an-, “at, on, unto”); and from Old Norse upp á: Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, and Swedish på (“on”), Norwegian Nynorsk paa, på (“on”), see upon.

7 senses
  1. 1To an operating state.
  2. 2So as to cover or be fitted.
  3. 3Along, forwards (continuing an action), onwards.
  4. 4In continuation, at length.
  5. 5Later.
  6. 6Of betting odds, denoting a better-than-even chance. See…
  7. 7Of a ball, into a pottable position.
1

To an operating state.

  • turn the television on
2

So as to cover or be fitted.

  • The lid wasn't screwed on properly.
  • Put on your hat and gloves.
3

Along, forwards (continuing an action), onwards.

  • The policeman moved the tramp on.
  • Drive on past the railway station.
3 more examples
  • From now on things are going to be different.
  • rock on
  • He met Luis Suarez's cross at the far post, only for Chelsea keeper Petr Cech to show brilliant reflexes to deflect his header on to the bar. Carroll turned away to lead Liverpool's insistent protests that the ball had crossed the line but referee Phil Dowd and assistant referee Andrew Garratt waved play on, with even a succession of replays proving inconclusive.2012 May 5, Phil McNulty, “Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool”, in BBC Sport:
4

In continuation, at length.

  • and so on
  • He rambled on and on.
5

Later.

Infrequent in the US

  • Ten years on, nothing had changed in the village.
6

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

  • That horse is twenty-to-one on, so you need to stake twenty pounds just to win one pound.
7

Ball games, Games, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Snooker, Sports Of a ball, into a pottable position.

  • The black was previously unavailable, but in potting that red, he's now pushed the black on.
Synonyms
after, afterward, afterwards, later, subsequently, thence
Antonyms
off

on

prep
Etymology

From Middle English on, from Old English on, an (“on, upon, onto, in, into”), from Proto-West Germanic *ana, from Proto-Germanic *ana (“on, at”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂en- (“on, onto”). Cognates Cognate with Yola a, an, ana, on (“on”), Saterland Frisian an (“on; at”), West Frisian oan (“on; to, towards”), Cimbrian aan, å (“on, onto”), Dutch aan (“on; at”), Low German an (“on; at, to”), German an (“at, in; on”), Luxembourgish un (“on; at, to”), Yiddish אָן (on, “on, onward”), Danish, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish å (“on”), Elfdalian ą̊ (“on”), Faroese and Icelandic á (“in; on”), Gothic 𐌰𐌽𐌰 (ana, “at, on”); also Umbrian 𐌀𐌌- (am-), 𐌀𐌍- (an-, “up, upon”), Ancient Greek ἀνά (aná, “on, upon”) (whence Greek ανά (aná, “by, through, per”)), Albanian në (“in; on”), Latvian no (“from; out of; for; of; with”), Lithuanian nuo (“from, off; for, of”), Belarusian, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Russian, and Ukrainian на (na, “on”), Czech, Polish, Slovak, and Slovene na (“on”), Serbo-Croatian на, na (“on”), Old Armenian ան- (an-, “at, on, unto”); and from Old Norse upp á: Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, and Swedish på (“on”), Norwegian Nynorsk paa, på (“on”), see upon.

47 senses
  1. 1Positioned at the upper surface of, touching from above.
  2. 2Positioned at or resting against the outer surface of…
  3. 3Covering.
  4. 4At or in (a geographical location or position).
  5. 5At (a relative spatial position).
  6. 6Near; adjacent to; alongside; just off.
  7. 7Aboard (a mode of transport, especially public…
  8. 8In the direction of (some part of one's vessel), to…
  9. 9Expressing figurative placement, burden, or attachment.
  10. 10With verbs describing an action of pushing, pulling…
  11. 11With verbs describing an action of hitting, rubbing…
  12. 12Denoting performance or action by contact with the…
  13. 13Supported by (the specified part of itself).
  14. 14At (a certain value or level).
  15. 15At (a certain position within a sequence).
  16. 16At or during the date or day of.
  17. 17At (a given time after the start of something).
  18. 18At (an instant or cusp).
  19. 19Dealing with the subject of; about; concerning.
  20. 20Indicating a means or medium.
  21. 21Indicating the target of, or thing affected by, an event…
  22. 22In the possession of.
  23. 23Because of; upon the basis of (something not yet…
  24. 24At the time of (and often because of).
  25. 25Arrived or coming into the presence of.
  26. 26Paid for by.
  27. 27Toward; for; indicating the object of an emotion.
  28. 28Indicating the person experiencing an emotion, cold…
  29. 29Indicating a means of subsistence or sustenance.
  30. 30Engaged in or occupied with (an action or activity).
  31. 31Regularly taking (a drug).
  32. 32Under the influence of (a drug, or something that is…
  33. 33In addition to; besides; indicating multiplication or…
  34. 34Indicating dependence or reliance.
  35. 35Serving as a member of.
  36. 36By virtue of; with the pledge of.
  37. 37Ellipsis of I swear on: on my life, on God, on everything, etc.
  38. 38To the account or detriment of; denoting imprecation or…
  39. 39Against; in opposition to.
  40. 40According to, from the standpoint of; (expressing what…
  41. 41In a position of being able to pot (a given ball).
  42. 42Having as identical domain and codomain.
  43. 43Having Vⁿ as domain and V as codomain, for the specified…
  44. 44Generated by.
  45. 45Divided by.
  46. 46Of.
  47. 47At the peril of, or for the safety of.

› Indicating position or location.

1

Positioned at the upper surface of, touching from above.

  • A vase of flowers stood on the table.
  • Please lie down on the couch.
3 more examples
  • The parrot was sitting on Jim's shoulder.
  • We should go sailing on the lake together sometime.
  • I stood on the bridge at midnight.1845, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, The Bridge:
2

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

  • He had a scar on the side of his face.
  • There is a dirty smudge on this window.
3 more examples
  • The painting hangs on the wall.
  • The fruit ripened on the trees.
  • Should there be an accent on the "e"?
3

Covering.

  • He wore old shoes on his feet.
4

At or in (a geographical location or position).

  • The lighthouse that you can see is on the mainland.
  • The suspect is thought to still be on the campus.
5

At (a relative spatial position).

  • We live on the edge of the city.
  • on the left, on the right, on the side, on the bottom
6

Near; adjacent to; alongside; just off.

  • The fleet is on the American coast.
  • Croton-on-Hudson, Rostov-on-Don, Southend-on-Sea
7

Aboard (a mode of transport, especially public transport, or transport that one sits astride or uses while standing).

  • on a bus, on a train, on a plane, on a ferry, on a yacht
  • on a bicycle, on a motorbike, on a horse, on a scooter
8

Nautical, Transport In the direction of (some part of one's vessel), to within 45 degrees.

  • A ship was sighted on the port quarter.
  • on the bow; on the starboard beam
9

Expressing figurative placement, burden, or attachment.

  • All of the responsibility is on him.
  • I put a bet on the winning horse.

› Denoting physical contact or interaction…

10

With verbs describing an action of pushing, pulling, pressing, etc., designates the thing to which force is applied.

  • tug on the rope; push hard on the door
11

With verbs describing an action of hitting, rubbing, scratching, binding against, etc., designates the thing impacted or contacted.

  • I stubbed my toe on an old tree stump.
  • I caught my fingernail on the door handle.
1 more example
  • The rope snagged on a branch.
12

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

  • to play on a violin or piano
13

Supported by (the specified part of itself).

  • A table can't stand on two legs.
  • After resting on his elbows, he stood on his toes, then walked on his heels.
14

UK At (a certain value or level).

  • The Tories are on twenty-five percent in this constituency.
  • The blue team are on six points and the red team on five.
15

At (a certain position within a sequence).

  • I'm on question four.
16

At or during the date or day of.

  • Born on the 4th of July.
  • On Sunday I'm busy. I'll see you on Monday.
1 more example
  • Can I see you on a different day?
17

UK, Especially, In sports reporting At (a given time after the start of something).

  • Smith scored again on twelve minutes, doubling Mudchester Rovers' lead.
  • The Spain striker had given Chelsea the lead on 29 minutes but was shown a straight red card 10 minutes later for a rash challenge on Mark Gower.2011 September 24, Aled Williams, “Chelsea 4-1 Swansea”, in BBC Sport, archived from the original on 03 Jan 2026:
18

At (an instant or cusp).

  • on the stroke of midnight; on the "B" of "Bang!"
  • on the point of leaving; on the verge of giving up
1 more example
  • About two weeks ago I had another foretaste of success and immediately on it a veritable disaster.1923, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], “(please specify the page)”, in The Eyes of Max Carrados, London: Grant Richards, →OCLC:
19

Dealing with the subject of; about; concerning.

  • I was reading a book on history.
  • The city hosted the World Summit on the Information Society
2 more examples
  • I have no opinion on this subject.
  • [...] I received a note from that gentleman on a most trivial matter. I answered it as trivially.1869 May, Anthony Trollope, “Lady Milborough as Ambassador”, in He Knew He Was Right, volume I, London: Strahan and Company, […], →OCLC, page 85:
20

Indicating a means or medium.

  • I saw it on television.
  • Can't you see I'm on the phone?
4 more examples
  • My favorite shows are on BBC America.
  • The Beatles' appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show is on YouTube.
  • The film was released on DVD.
  • I'll pay on card.
21

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

  • They planned an attack on London.
  • The soldiers mutinied and turned their guns on their officers.
2 more examples
  • Her words made a lasting impression on my mind.
  • What will be the effect on morale?
22

Informal In the possession of.

  • I haven't got any money on me.
23

Because of; upon the basis of (something not yet confirmed as true).

  • to arrest someone on suspicion of bribery
  • to contact someone on a hunch
24

At the time of (and often because of).

Also often 'upon'

  • On Jack's entry, William got up to leave.
  • On the addition of ammonia, a chemical reaction begins.
1 more example
  • A young woman, before marriage, hears only the myths of wedded bliss. Later, on discovering the truth, she conspires with other women to conceal it.1988 February 14, Louise Rice, quoting Angela Bowen, “Confronting The Mythology Of Motherhood”, in Gay Community News, volume 15, number 30, page 7:
25

Arrived or coming into the presence of.

Also often 'upon'

  • I need to get my planting done, as the season will soon be on us.
  • Before we knew it, the forest was on us, and the air grew colder and damper.
26

Paid for by.

  • The drinks are on me tonight, boys.
  • The meal is on the house.
1 more example
  • I paid for the airfare and meals for my family, but the hotel room was on the company.
27

Toward; for; indicating the object of an emotion.

  • Have pity or compassion on him.
28

Ireland, Especially Indicating the person experiencing an emotion, cold, thirst, hunger, etc.

  • I had a terrible thirst on me.
  • '[…] the hunger is on me to carry my sword in distant places.' Mynyddog bowed his head.2013 February 27, Rosemary Sutcliff, The Shining Company, Random House, →ISBN:
2 more examples
  • “Christ, the thirst on me.” “Sure, it's serious work, all that talk of independence.” The theater's stained-glass doors had first flung open in 1904, all in the hope of “rewriting the Irish identity,” of using culture in the fight[…]2017 January 24, Ruth Gilligan, Nine Folds Make a Paper Swan, Tin House Books, →ISBN:
  • “I've got the hunger on me, I do.” Riordan snorted. Hardly a man knew hunger as he did. The prison rations at Point Lookout, spare enough, had been a feast compared to the black years in Ireland.[…]2017 August 29, Ralph Peters, Judgment at Appomattox: A Novel, Forge Books, →ISBN, page 18:
29

Indicating a means of subsistence or sustenance.

  • They lived on ten dollars a week.
  • The dog survived three weeks on rainwater.
1 more example
  • 1950s, UK Egg Marketing Board advertising slogan. Go to work on an egg.
30

Engaged in or occupied with (an action or activity).

  • He's on his lunch break.
  • I'm on nights all this week.
1 more example
  • on vacation; on holiday; on a mission; on the job; on the fiddle
31

Regularly taking (a drug).

  • You've been on these antidepressants far too long.
32

Under the influence of (a drug, or something that is causing drug-like effects).

  • He's acting crazy because he's on crack right now.
33

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

  • heaps on heaps of food
  • mischief on mischief; loss on loss
34

Indicating dependence or reliance.

  • I depended on them for assistance.
  • He will promise on certain conditions.
35

Serving as a member of.

  • He is on the jury; I am on the committee.
36

By virtue of; with the pledge of.

  • He affirmed or promised on his word, or on his honour.
37

Abbreviation, Ellipsis, Informal, In set phrases Ellipsis of I swear on: on my life, on God, on everything, etc.

38

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

  • On us be all the blame.
  • A curse on him!
4 more examples
  • Please don't tell on her and get her in trouble.
  • He turned on her and has been her enemy ever since.
  • He went all honest on me, making me listen to his confession.
  • His blood be on vs, and on our children.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Matthew 27:25:
39

Against; in opposition to.

Especially when numbers of combatants or competitors are specified

  • The fight was three on one, and he never stood a chance.
40

Human sciences, Logic, Mathematics, Philosophy, Sciences According to, from the standpoint of; (expressing what must follow, whether accepted or not, if a given premise or system is assumed true).

  • On naturalism, it is therefore difficult to find a ground for ultimate moral hope.2021, Gavin Ortlund, Why God Makes Sense in a World That Doesn't: The Beauty of Christian Theism, Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, →ISBN:
41

Ball games, Games, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Snooker, Sports In a position of being able to pot (a given ball).

  • All the way around the table, off four cushions, and ... and he's on the black!
42

Mathematics, Sciences Having as identical domain and codomain.

  • a function on #92;mathbb#123;R#125;
43

Mathematics, Sciences Having Vⁿ as domain and V as codomain, for the specified set V and some integer n.

  • an operator on #92;mathbb#123;Z#125;
44

Mathematics, Sciences Generated by.

  • the free group on four letters
45

Mathematics, Sciences Quebec Divided by.

  • Twenty on three.
46

Dialectal, Obsolete, Regional Of.

  • I never seen 'im, and that's the truth on it.
  • Be not jealous on me.1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]:
1 more example
  • Or have we eaten on the insane root / That takes the reason prisoner?c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii]:
47

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

  • Hence on thy life: the captive maid is mine; / Whom not for price or pray'rs I will reſign: [...]a. 1701 (date written), John Dryden, “The First Book of Homer’s Ilias”, in The Miscellaneous Works of John Dryden, […], volume IV, London: […] J[acob] and R[ichard] Tonson, […], published 1760, →OCLC, page 415:
Synonyms
about, apropos, as for, by dint of, due to
Derived terms
59 termsdepending on, end-on, follow-on, now on, then on, full-on, guidon, hands-on, hereon, land on, meson, onballer, on call, on-call, on-campus, on-chain, onfield, on foot, onglaze, ongoer, ongoing, on high, onlap, onlooker, onpass, on-prem, on-ramp, onramp, onscreen, onsell, onsetter, onshore, onside, onsides, onsight, onsite, on-site, onstage, on stream, onstream, on time, on-time, onto, on-trade, on-train, onward, onwards, onz, painted-on, pull on, pull up on, push up on, put on, put on airs, run up on, Stanton-on-the-Wolds, strap-on, thereon, whereon

on

verb
Etymology

From Middle English on, from Old English on, an (“on, upon, onto, in, into”), from Proto-West Germanic *ana, from Proto-Germanic *ana (“on, at”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂en- (“on, onto”). Cognates Cognate with Yola a, an, ana, on (“on”), Saterland Frisian an (“on; at”), West Frisian oan (“on; to, towards”), Cimbrian aan, å (“on, onto”), Dutch aan (“on; at”), Low German an (“on; at, to”), German an (“at, in; on”), Luxembourgish un (“on; at, to”), Yiddish אָן (on, “on, onward”), Danish, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish å (“on”), Elfdalian ą̊ (“on”), Faroese and Icelandic á (“in; on”), Gothic 𐌰𐌽𐌰 (ana, “at, on”); also Umbrian 𐌀𐌌- (am-), 𐌀𐌍- (an-, “up, upon”), Ancient Greek ἀνά (aná, “on, upon”) (whence Greek ανά (aná, “by, through, per”)), Albanian në (“in; on”), Latvian no (“from; out of; for; of; with”), Lithuanian nuo (“from, off; for, of”), Belarusian, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Russian, and Ukrainian на (na, “on”), Czech, Polish, Slovak, and Slovene na (“on”), Serbo-Croatian на, na (“on”), Old Armenian ան- (an-, “at, on, unto”); and from Old Norse upp á: Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, and Swedish på (“on”), Norwegian Nynorsk paa, på (“on”), see upon.

1

Malaysia, Nigeria, Philippines, Singapore, Colloquial To switch on.

  • Can you on the light?

on

noun

Etymology From Japanese 音読み (on'yomi, literally “sound reading”).

1

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.

  • Most kanji have two kinds of reading, called "on" and "kun".
Related terms
kun, on dit

on

prep

Etymology From Old Norse ón, án (“without”), from Proto-Germanic *ēnu, *ēno, *ino (“without”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḗnu (“without”). Cognate with North Frisian on (“without”), Middle Dutch an, on (“without”), Middle Low German āne (“without”), German ohne (“without”), Gothic 𐌹𐌽𐌿 (inu, “without, except”). Unlikely to be related to Ancient Greek ἄνευ (áneu, “without”), which is likely akin to Proto-Germanic *sundraz instead (whence sunder).

1

Scotland, UK, Dialectal Without.

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.