on
gb/ˈɔn/ us/ˈɔn/
A1
English
~ 200
Senses
0 senses
preposition
A1
relation
1
in contact with a surface
Touching and being held up by the top or side of something.
Usage pattern:
[something] on [surface]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'on' with 'in' for flat surfaces, saying 'in the table' instead of 'on the table'.
Synonyms
upon (More formal or literary; less common in everyday speech.)
Antonyms
off (Indicates no longer being in contact with or supported by something.)
Collocations
on the table
|on the wall
|on the floor
|on the bed
|on my hand
Themes
daily life
|spatial relations
|space
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The keys are on the kitchen counter.
- There’s a painting on the wall.
- She placed the book on the desk.
- He spilled coffee on his shirt.
- The cat is sleeping on the sofa.
Learner examples
- The pen is on the desk.
- My phone is on the bed.
- There is a cup on the table.
- The picture is on the wall.
- She has a ring on her finger.
preposition
A1
relation
2
indicating a specific date or day
Used to talk about a certain day or date.
Usage pattern:
on [day/date/occasion]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes omit 'on' before days and dates, especially under influence from languages that don't use prepositions here.
Synonyms
during (Can refer to a period of time but not necessarily a single day or date.)
Collocations
on Monday
|on July 4th
|on my birthday
|on Christmas Day
Themes
time
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- We met on Monday.
- The meeting is scheduled on July 15th.
- I was born on New Year’s Day.
- They got married on Valentine’s Day.
Learner examples
- I work on Monday.
- Her birthday is on June 10th.
- We will see them on Friday.
- He was born on Christmas Day.
preposition
A1
state
3
device operating or active
Shows that a machine or system is working or running.
Usage pattern:
[device] is on
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'on' with 'open' for devices, saying 'the light is open' instead of 'the light is on'.
Synonyms
running (Common for machines; less common for lights or electronics.)
Antonyms
off (Indicates a device or system is not operating.)
Collocations
the light is on
|turn on the TV
|leave the computer on
Themes
technology
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The lights are on in the living room.
- Please leave the heater on overnight.
- Is the computer still on?
- I forgot to turn the oven on.
Learner examples
- The TV is on.
- The light is on in my room.
- Please turn on the fan.
- Is your phone on?
adverb
A2
relation
4
continuing without stopping
Shows something keeps happening or moving forward.
Synonyms
forward (Implies direction rather than persistence.)
Antonyms
off (In some contexts, signals stopping or disengaging.)
Collocations
go on
|carry on
|move on
Themes
daily life
|time
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Please carry on with your work.
- The show must go on despite the rain.
- She went on talking for hours.
Learner examples
- Go on with your homework.
- They went on walking after lunch.
- Please carry on reading.
preposition
A2
relation
5
about a subject or topic
Used to show what something is about.
Usage pattern:
[talk/speak/write] on [topic]
Synonyms
about ('About' is more common in everyday speech; 'on' can sound slightly more formal in this usage.)
Collocations
book on history
|lecture on climate change
Themes
communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She gave a talk on renewable energy.
- I’m reading a book on World War II.
- There was a documentary on wildlife conservation.
Learner examples
- He wrote a story on animals.
- The teacher gave a lesson on math.
- We saw a movie on space travel.
Grammar
Dictionary form
on
IPA
GB/ˈɔn/
US/ˈɔn/
Syllables & stress
on (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (on)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: on
- Plural: ons
Word family
Expressions
on and off
1/ˈɔn ˈænd ˈɔf/
fixed phrase
intermittently over time
Happening sometimes but not regularly.
Examples
- It rained on and off all day.
- They’ve been dating on and off for years.
on board
1/ˈɔn bˈɔɹd/
fixed phrase
Inside or part of a vehicle/vessel
On or in a ship, plane, bus, or train; also part of a team or project.
Examples
- All passengers are now on board.
- We’re glad to have you on board for this project.
on board
2/ˈɔn bˈɔɹd/
fixed phrase
present in vehicle or involved in project
On or in a ship, plane, train, etc., or part of a team or project.
Examples
- Welcome on board flight 302 to Paris.
- We’re glad to have you on board for this project.
on time
1/ˈɔn tˈaɪm/
fixed phrase
At the scheduled moment
At exactly the planned or right moment; not late.
Examples
- The train arrived on time despite the rain.
- She always pays her bills on time.
on time
2/ˈɔn tˈaɪm/
fixed phrase
happening as planned or scheduled
At the planned or correct time; not late.
Examples
- The train arrived on time.
- Please be on time for the meeting.
on purpose
1/ˈɔn pˈɚpəs/
fixed phrase
Intentionally, not accidentally
To do something on purpose means you do it because you want to, not by accident.
Examples
- I didn't break the vase on purpose.
- She left early on purpose so she could avoid traffic.
on purpose
2/ˈɔn pˈɚpəs/
fixed phrase
done deliberately, not by mistake
Done with intention, not by accident.
Examples
- She broke the vase on purpose.
- He left early on purpose to avoid traffic.
on purpose
3/ˈɔn pˈɚpəs/
fixed phrase
deliberately; not by accident
To do something on purpose means to do it intentionally, not by mistake or by chance.
Examples
- You broke my phone on purpose, didn’t you?
- He spilled coffee on his shirt and then joked that he did it on purpose to leave the meeting early.
- She didn’t ignore you on purpose; she just didn’t see your message.
on the other hand
1/ˈɔn ðə ˈʌðɚ hˈænd/
fixed phrase
introducing a contrast between ideas
Used to introduce an opposite or different idea from what was said before.
Examples
- I like living in the city. On the other hand, it can be very noisy.
- I like city life. On the other hand, it can be stressful.
- He might agree. On the other hand, he could refuse.
- He seems strict, but on the other hand, he cares deeply about his students.
- He’s very talented. On the other hand, he can be lazy.
on the other hand
2/ˈɔn ðə ˈʌðɚ hˈænd/
fixed phrase
introducing an opposite view
Used to introduce an opposite idea or fact.
Examples
- I love city life. On the other hand, it can be very stressful.
- He’s very talented. On the other hand, he lacks experience.
on the other hand
5/ˈɔn ðə ˈʌðɚ hˈænd/
fixed phrase
contrasting point
Use this when you want to show the other side of an argument.
Examples
- The apartment is small. On the other hand, it is close to work.
- The plan could save money; on the other hand, it may take longer.
- Some people enjoy working from home. On the other hand, others miss the office.