always-on
adjective
al·ways-on
ˈȯl-wēz-ˈȯn 
-ˈän,
-wəz-,
-(ˌ)wāz-
also ˈȯ-
: always active, operating, or powered
an always-on Internet connection
When a power shortage occurs and electricity costs rise, the always-on devices scattered throughout … your facility consume increasingly expensive power.—
Gilbert Held
Gilbert HeldExamples of always-on in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
It’s not defined by its shootouts and red-light-always-on entertainment.
—Sam McDowell 24, Kansas City Star, 24 Nov. 2025
The Ultra 2 rocks a bigger, brighter, always-on screen that’s easy to check during workouts or glances.
—PC Magazine, 20 Nov. 2025
The right technology Kids live in an always-on world.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 5 Nov. 2025
Large, always-on systems use much more energy, raising concerns about their long-term impact on the environment.
—Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for always-on
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Sam McDowell 24, Kansas City Star, 24 Nov. 2025
The Ultra 2 rocks a bigger, brighter, always-on screen that’s easy to check during workouts or glances.
—PC Magazine, 20 Nov. 2025
The right technology Kids live in an always-on world.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 5 Nov. 2025
Large, always-on systems use much more energy, raising concerns about their long-term impact on the environment.
—Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for always-on
Cite this Entry
“Always-on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/always-on. Accessed 2 Dec. 2025.
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