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

Examples of always-on in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

And campaign cadence is shifting from quarterly tentpoles to always-on programs, which generate exponentially more data and reward the firms equipped to learn from it in real time. — Jason Davis, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026

In an instant-everything, always-on world, finding the time to take a breath, a beat, and a moment to yourself isn’t easy. — Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 16 June 2026

With the new Fitbit Air, the goal is to deliver a similar always-on wellness experience at a lower long-term cost while adding more personalized guidance through Google’s software. — Andrew Gebhart, PC Magazine, 16 June 2026

The announcement marks more consolidation for the streaming industry, which, broadly, has been challenged to reach and maintain profitability while providing always-on, on-demand service at lower prices than cable. — Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 15 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1976, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for always-on

• aileron
• antiphon
• autobahn
• carillon
• castellan
• celadon
• cephalon
• cynodon
• denouement
• deuteron
• echelon
• epsilon