On
[ɒn] or [ɑn]
Definition
(adj.) in operation or operational; 'left the oven on'; 'the switch is in the on position' .
(adj.) (of events) planned or scheduled; 'the picnic is on, rain or shine'; 'we have nothing on for Friday night' .
(adv.) indicates continuity or persistence or concentration; 'his spirit lives on'; 'shall I read on?'.
(adv.) in a state required for something to function or be effective; 'turn the lights on'; 'get a load on'.
Checked by Fern--From WordNet
Definition
(prep.) The general signification of on is situation, motion, or condition with respect to contact or support beneath
(prep.) At, or in contact with, the surface or upper part of a thing, and supported by it; placed or lying in contact with the surface; as, the book lies on the table, which stands on the floor of a house on an island.
(prep.) To or against the surface of; -- used to indicate the motion of a thing as coming or falling to the surface of another; as, rain falls on the earth.
(prep.) Denoting performance or action by contact with the surface, upper part, or outside of anything; hence, by means of; with; as, to play on a violin or piano. Hence, figuratively, to work on one's feelings; to make an impression on the mind.
(prep.) At or near; adjacent to; -- indicating situation, place, or position; as, on the one hand, on the other hand; the fleet is on the American coast.
(prep.) In addition to; besides; -- indicating multiplication or succession in a series; as, heaps on heaps; mischief on mischief; loss on loss; thought on thought.
(prep.) Indicating dependence or reliance; with confidence in; as, to depend on a person for assistance; to rely on; hence, indicating the ground or support of anything; as, he will promise on certain conditions; to bet on a horse.
(prep.) At or in the time of; during; as, on Sunday we abstain from labor. See At (synonym).
(prep.) At the time of, conveying some notion of cause or motive; as, on public occasions, the officers appear in full dress or uniform. Hence, in consequence of, or following; as, on the ratification of the treaty, the armies were disbanded.
(prep.) Toward; for; -- indicating the object of some passion; as, have pity or compassion on him.
(prep.) At the peril of, or for the safety of.
(prep.) By virtue of; with the pledge of; -- denoting a pledge or engagement, and put before the thing pledged; as, he affirmed or promised on his word, or on his honor.
(prep.) To the account of; -- denoting imprecation or invocation, or coming to, falling, or resting upon; as, on us be all the blame; a curse on him.
(prep.) In reference or relation to; as, on our part expect punctuality; a satire on society.
(prep.) Of.
(prep.) Occupied with; in the performance of; as, only three officers are on duty; on a journey.
(prep.) In the service of; connected with; of the number of; as, he is on a newspaper; on a committee.
(prep.) Forward, in progression; onward; -- usually with a verb of motion; as, move on; go on.
(prep.) Forward, in succession; as, from father to son, from the son to the grandson, and so on.
(prep.) In continuance; without interruption or ceasing; as, sleep on, take your ease; say on; sing on.
(prep.) Adhering; not off; as in the phrase, "He is neither on nor off," that is, he is not steady, he is irresolute.
(prep.) Attached to the body, as clothing or ornament, or for use.
(prep.) In progress; proceeding; as, a game is on.
Edited by Julius
Synonyms and Synonymous
prep. Upon.
ad. Forward.
Checker: Reginald
Definition
prep. in contact with the upper part of: to and toward the surface of: upon or acting by contact with: not off: at or near: at or during: in addition to: toward for: at the peril of: in consequence: immediately after: (B.) off.—adv. above or next beyond: forward in succession: in continuance: not off.—interj. go on! proceed!—adj. denoting the part of the field to the left of a right-handed batter and to the right of the bowler—opp. to Off.
prep. (Scot.) without.
Checker: Virgil
Examples
- He was undeniably a prosperous man, bore his drinking better than others bore their moderation, and, on the whole, flourished like the green bay-tree. George Eliot. Middlemarch.
- She had always a new bonnet on, and flowers bloomed perpetually in it, or else magnificent curling ostrich feathers, soft and snowy as camellias. William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
- Of the numerous other telegraph instruments that have been invented since 1837, that of Mr. Morse is in most general use, especially on the Continent and in America. Frederick C. Bakewell. Great Facts.
- For instance, if he took his supper after a hard day, to the Dead March in Saul, his food might be likely to sit heavy on him. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- On the strength of Darcy's regard, Bingley had the firmest reliance, and of his judgement the highest opinion. Jane Austen. Pride and Prejudice.
- Miss Vye's family is a good one on her mother's side; and her father was a romantic wanderer--a sort of Greek Ulysses. Thomas Hardy. The Return of the Native.
- They possess significance only as movements toward something away from what is now going on. John Dewey. Democracy and Education.
- He bucked her out along the shore Qf the lake and as soon as she was reasonable they went on back along the trail. Hemingway, Ernest. For Whom The Bell Tolls.
- Pray Heaven that I am going away from, have compassion on my uncle! Charles Dickens. David Copperfield.
- Remember what I told you on the moor--and ask yourself what my assertion is worth. Wilkie Collins. The Moonstone.
- Don't take on, Miss. William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
- We have been on the look-out for him, and there was some idea that he had got away to America. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Return of Sherlock Holmes.
- Especially on that turning business. Hemingway, Ernest. For Whom The Bell Tolls.
- Did I count on that? Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
- That depends,' said Mrs. Bardell, approaching the duster very near to Mr. Pickwick's elbow which was planted on the table. Charles Dickens. The Pickwick Papers.
- He made that brief reply warmly, dropping his hand on the table while he spoke, and turning towards us again. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- Listlessness to everything, but brooding sorrow, was the night that fell on my undisciplined heart. Charles Dickens. David Copperfield.
- He fixed his vivid eyes on Archer as he lit another cigarette. Edith Wharton. The Age of Innocence.
- On the second day he found his wife and Sir Percival whispering together quite familiar, close under the vestry of the church. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- We take the liberty of coming, my young companion and I, madam,' said Riah, 'on behalf of Lizzie Hexam. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- We retired from the debate which had followed on his nomination: we, his nominators, mortified; he dispirited to excess. Mary Shelley. The Last Man.
- Everything that arose before his mind drifted him on, faster and faster, more and more steadily, to the terrible attraction. Charles Dickens. A Tale of Two Cities.
- Heaven and Evening gazed back on her. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
- Until Edison made his wonderful invention in 1877, the human race was entirely without means for preserving or passing on to posterity its own linguistic utterances or any other vocal sound. Frank Lewis Dyer. Edison, His Life and Inventions.
- To my inexperience we at first appeared on the eve of a civil war; each party was violent, acrimonious, and unyielding. Mary Shelley. The Last Man.
- In all other respects Fosco, on that memorable day, was Fosco shrouded in total eclipse. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- And the bulk of your fortune would be laid out in annuities on the authors or their heirs. Jane Austen. Sense and Sensibility.
- There's a tub of lard on the ribs of each one. Hemingway, Ernest. For Whom The Bell Tolls.
- Not a word had been spoken during the present session on any of these topics. Mary Shelley. The Last Man.
- Some weeks of spare time were at my disposal, before I entered on my functions by establishing myself in the suburbs of London. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
Checker: Virgil