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

The Fitbit Inspire 3 earned our Editors' Choice award for the best affordable fitness tracker, featuring an always-on color screen, capable workout and health metrics, and the longest battery life in the Fitbit lineup. —Cierra Cowan, PC Magazine, 7 Oct. 2025

Communities are known to create huge, always-on 'speech labs' where new phrases can be invented, tested, and spread in moments. —Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Oct. 2025

Another challenge is balancing this always-on work with motherhood and community service. —Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2025

The screen is the real star of the show in the iPhone 17, bringing 120 Hz ProMotion technology and the Pro's always-on display feature to the regular iPhone for the first time. —ArsTechnica, 25 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1976, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for always-on

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