on

on [ an, ɔn ] function word ***

On can be used in the following ways:

as a preposition:

She was lying on the floor.

It happened on a hot summer's day.

as an adverb:

Put your clothes on now.

When the bus stopped he got on.

after the verb to be :

Is the central heating on?

1. ) touching a surface or an object

a ) touching and supported by the top surface of something:

Chad was asleep on the floor in a heap of blankets.

He left a note for you on the kitchen table.

Who was the first man on the moon?

Jimmy sat on a high stool with his hands on the table.

b ) onto a surface:

Alanis dropped her books on the desk.

We could hear the rain falling on the roof.

c ) touching, sticking to, or hanging from a surface or object:

There were several interesting posters on the wall.

He had a lot of blood on his arm.

The key is hanging on a hook in the hall.

Evelyn leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.

What kind of paper was the letter typed on?

Can you see what's written on the blackboard?

2. ) at a particular time used for stating the day or date when something happens:

He's coming home on Wednesday.

My birthday is on the 27th of November.

They met on a rainy day in January.

3. ) supported by a part of your body used for stating the part of your body that is supporting you:

He propped himself up on an elbow and looked me in the eye.

She gets down on her knees every night and prays for her family.

Can you skate backward on one leg?

4. ) in a particular place

a ) in a particular area or on a particular type of land:

The house was built on a beautiful piece of land.

a school on the outskirts of Ft. Worth

Survivors lived on the island for three weeks before being rescued.

My father was raised on a farm, but I have lived in the city my whole life.

b ) in a particular road or street:

Gordie's grandparents live on Crescent Drive.

c ) at the side of a river or area of water:

Her mother comes from a small village on the Baltic Sea.

a town on the Mississippi

As the owner of the only restaurant on the lakefront, he enjoys very good profits.

5. ) in a list included in a list:

The future of the charity will be one of the items on the agenda.

My name's not on the list of candidates, why not?

6. ) hitting against something used for stating the thing a part of your body accidentally hits or touches causing you to be hurt:

I cut my hand on a piece of glass from the broken window.

She bumped her head really hard on the door.

7. ) wearing something used for saying that you are wearing a piece of clothing, jewelry, etc., or for stating the part of your body that it covers:

Come on, put your socks on, you'll be late for school.

She had on a simple silk dress with a pattern of roses.

She was wearing a ring on the third finger of her left hand.

He had a hat on, but not much else.

8. ) looking at someone/something if your eyes are on someone or something, you are looking at them:

Hannah fixed her gray eyes on me once again.

He kept his eyes on the flickering flames.

9. ) happening or being broadcast

a ) being broadcast by radio or television:

Friends is on TV tonight.

I usually listen to the news on the radio while I'm driving to work.

What time is the football game on?

b ) MAINLY BRITISH taking place or happening somewhere:

There's a wedding on now at the church.

10. ) about something concerning a particular subject:

I have to write a report on the Civil War for history class.

a conference on language teaching

Students should be offered accurate information on subjects like sex and contraception.

11. ) continuing

1

a ) used for saying that someone is continuing to do something:

They talked on through the night.

Read on to find out the rest of the story.

I stayed on after everyone else had left.

He kept on saying Where are the kids? over and over again.

We can't go on putting more and more taxpayers' money into these programs without getting some results.

1

b ) from now/then/that moment etc. on starting at a particular time and continuing to happen:

The new rules will apply to all the members from now on.

From that moment on, I knew that I wanted to be a doctor.

1

c ) continuing to move forward:

They walked on beside the river to a picnic spot they knew.

When I didn't know the answer, the teacher kindly moved on to the next student.

12. ) in or into a vehicle in or into a bus, train, airplane, etc.:

We got on the train in Oakland.

I'll get some work done while I'm on the plane.

13. ) using a particular type of machine or equipment

1

a ) used for stating the type of machine or equipment that is used for doing something:

Much of the work is done on the computer.

I recorded our conversation on my tape recorder.

1

b ) used for stating in what form music, movies, information, etc. are recorded:

The Grinch was released last year on video.

I bought the album on tape when it first came out in 1996.

14. ) working or in use if a machine or piece of electrical equipment is on, it is in use or working:

Is the furnace on? I'm freezing.

She had left her light on and I went in to turn it off.

When you turn the computer on, it goes through a procedure called booting.

15. ) using a drug using a particular drug:

She's on antibiotics for a mild eye infection.

Some of the young people were obviously high on drugs.

16. ) taking part in a trip used for saying that someone takes part in an activity in which they travel or see something:

He has been going on expeditions since he was eleven years old.

I'll take you on a tour of the factory.

I met him when I was on a Mediterranean cruise.

17. ) when someone is a member of something if someone is on a team, committee, etc., they are a member of it:

There are only three directors on the board.

Mr. Cook was strongly criticized by some of the Senators on the committee.

I'm glad to have a player like you on our team.

18. ) happening immediately FORMAL used for saying that an event is followed immediately by another event or that the two events happen at the same time:

On being made aware of the complaints, he informed the committee.

They exchanged a firm handshake on parting.

Report to the reception desk on arrival.

19. ) using something to live or work

1

a ) eating or drinking only a particular type of food or drink in order to stay alive:

Using a cave as shelter, the two men survived on wild berries and raw fish.

He lives on a diet of coffee and cigarettes.

1

b ) using a particular type of fuel or electrical power in order to operate:

run on something: Why can't they make a car that runs on water?

This video recorder runs on batteries.

1

c ) used for saying how much money you have to buy the things that you need in order to live:

He was just managing to survive on a small student grant.

The 1.3 billion who live on less than $1 a day have waited far too long for these changes.

How to travel around Europe on $40 a day.

20. ) used for showing who or what is affected used for stating who or what is affected by something:

The rough weather had little effect on the ship.

The attacks on Walters in the newspaper have been entirely unfair.

21. ) compared with something compared with someone or something:

This would be a significant improvement on the $15 million profit figure achieved last time.

22. ) performing used for saying that an actor or performer can be seen appearing on the stage or screen:

Wait! She'll be on in a couple of seconds.

23. ) paid for by someone SPOKEN used for saying who will pay for something:

Drink up! The next round's on me.

24. ) used for giving phone numbers BRITISH used for stating the phone number where someone can be contacted. American at:

Call us on 0800 0900017.

be/go on at someone BRITISH INFORMAL

to keep asking someone to do something, or keep complaining about their behavior, in a way that annoys them

be on for something SPOKEN

to want to do something:

Are you still on for a trip to the coast on Thursday?

go on about MAINLY BRITISH INFORMAL

to keep talking about someone or something, especially when other people think it is boring

have something on

to have an arrangement to do something:

Do you have anything on this weekend?

have a lot on (=be very busy): I've got a lot on this week, so I won't be able to see you.

have something on you

to be carrying something, for example in a pocket or bag:

Can you pay, I don't seem to have any money on me.

Have you got your passport on you?

(just) not on BRITISH INFORMAL

used for saying that something cannot be allowed or that it is impossible

on and on

continuing for a long time:

The opera seemed to go on and on for hours.

on someone's face

used for saying that someone's face has a particular expression:

There was a look of horror on her face.

Bertie had a serious expression on his face as he came out to meet me.

He looked at me with a puzzled expression on his face.

on someone's left/right

at or to the left/right side of someone or something:

Johnny was sitting on my left.

If you look on your right, you will see the White House.

what is someone on? AMERICAN SPOKEN

used when you cannot understand why someone is behaving so strangely

what is someone on about? BRITISH SPOKEN

used when you do not understand what someone is talking about

you're on SPOKEN

used for saying yes when someone has invited you to compete or do something difficult or dangerous

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