on the phone
idiom
1
: using a telephone to talk to someone
Can you see who's at the door? I'm on the phone.
I was on the phone with my sister until late last night.
2
British
: connected to a telephone system
How many households aren't on the phone?
Examples of on the phone in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Another resident recalled talking to her on the phone the day before her body was found.
—
Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026
Two relatives were on the phone during the shooting and told them to go to the police station.
—Michelle L. Quinn, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
Trump has also been busy talking on the phone with his favorite war criminal, Russian President Vladimir Putin.
—Tom Zirpoli, Baltimore Sun, 6 Jan. 2026
The pair had been on the phone recently, Amir wrote, to discuss the roll out for Fields’ music.
—Uwa Ede-Osifo, Dallas Morning News, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for on the phone
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Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026
Two relatives were on the phone during the shooting and told them to go to the police station.
—Michelle L. Quinn, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
Trump has also been busy talking on the phone with his favorite war criminal, Russian President Vladimir Putin.
—Tom Zirpoli, Baltimore Sun, 6 Jan. 2026
The pair had been on the phone recently, Amir wrote, to discuss the roll out for Fields’ music.
—Uwa Ede-Osifo, Dallas Morning News, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for on the phone
Cite this Entry
“On the phone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20the%20phone. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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