1
: something (such as an advertising promotion) intended to entice or allure
2
: a usually sexual advance
came on; come on; coming on; comes on
1
a
: to advance by degrees
darkness coming on
b
: to begin by degrees
The rain came on toward noon.
2
a
: please
—used in cajoling or pleading
Come on, just one more time.
b
—used interjectionally to express astonishment, incredulity, or recognition of a put-on
Come on, do you expect me to believe that?
3
: to project an indicated personal image
comes on as a conservative
4
: to show sexual interest in someone
also
: to make sexual advances
—usually used with to
tried to come on to me
Examples of come-on in a Sentence
Noun
the spectacular sale was enough of a come-on to get many shoppers to try the store for the first time
Recent Examples on the Web
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 14 Feb. 2026
But where Destiny’s Child depicted small acts of service as intimate foreplay, Mai drops the come-ons and finds pleasure in the favors themselves.
—Stephen Kearse, Pitchfork, 11 Feb. 2026
Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 18 Feb. 2026
The new stores come on the heels of 14 new retail locations that opened in 2025.
—Cheryl McCloud, Florida Times-Union, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for come-on
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Noun
Gage’s Robert is also no slouch in the come-on department, gushing over Jack’s appearance and enticing him by wearing women’s lingerie and doing you don’t want to know what else.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 14 Feb. 2026
But where Destiny’s Child depicted small acts of service as intimate foreplay, Mai drops the come-ons and finds pleasure in the favors themselves.
—Stephen Kearse, Pitchfork, 11 Feb. 2026
Verb
These promotions come on the heels of Buchwald naming Julia Buchwald as Chief Executive Officer and President, and Ryan Martin as Co-President of the agency.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 18 Feb. 2026
The new stores come on the heels of 14 new retail locations that opened in 2025.
—Cheryl McCloud, Florida Times-Union, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for come-on
Cite this Entry
“Come-on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/come-on. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
come on
intransitive verb
: to be brought forward (as a case in court)
the first prize case of the war…came on for trial—W. G. Young
W. G. YoungLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
