on

Meanings

Adjective

• In the state of being active, functioning or operating.
• Performing according to schedule; taking place.
• Fitted; covering; being worn.
• Of a stated part of something, oriented towards the viewer or other specified direction.
• Acceptable, appropriate.
• Destined, normally in the context of a challenge being accepted; involved, doomed.
• Having reached a base as a runner and being positioned there, awaiting further action from a subsequent batter.
• Within the half of the field on the same side as the batsman's legs; the left side for a right-handed batsman.
• Menstruating.

Adverb

• To an operating state.
• So as to cover or be fitted.
• Along, forwards (continuing an action).
• In continuation, at length.
• Later.
• See also odds-on.

Verb

• to switch on

Noun

• 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.

Related

Similar words

• on base

Opposite words

• off
• after, afterward/afterwards, later, subsequently, thence

Origin

• From Middle English on, from Old English on, an, from Proto-Germanic *ana ("on, at"), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂en-. Cognate with North Frisian a ("on, in"), Saterland Frisian an ("on, at"), West Frisian oan ("on, at"), Dutch aan ("on, at, to"), Low German an ("on, at"), German an ("to, at, on"), Swedish å ("on, at, in"), Faroese á ("on, onto, in, at"), Icelandic á ("on, in"), Gothic 𐌰𐌽𐌰, Ancient Greek ἀνά ("up, upon"), Albanian në ("in"); and from Old Norse upp á: Danish på, Swedish på, Norwegian på, see upon.
• From Old Norse ón, án, from Proto-Germanic *ēnu, *ēno, *ino, from Proto-Indo-European *anew, *enew. Cognate with North Frisian on ("without"), Middle Dutch an, on, Middle Low German āne ("without"), German ohne ("without"), Gothic 𐌹𐌽𐌿 ("without, except"), Ancient Greek ἄνευ ("without").
• From Japanese 音読み.