: connected to, served by, or available through a system and especially a computer or telecommunications system (such as the Internet)
an online database
also
: done while connected to such a system
online shopping
online games
online searching
online
adverb
Examples of on line in a Sentence
Adjective
The city libraries are all online.
He likes to engage in online chats.
Recent Examples on the Web
Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 3 Jan. 2026
Rachel Hutchison, manager of online instructional design at the National Head Start Association, helped align Cabinet of Wonder material with Head Start standards — such as fine and gross motor control, cognitive development and emotional and behavioral development.
—Darcel Rockett, Chicago Tribune, 3 Jan. 2026
Illinois now allows certain public officials to request the removal of personal details such as home addresses and information about their children, responding to growing concerns about harassment and online targeting.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 2 Jan. 2026
But, by getting a dedicated IP address and having security features that block ads and trackers and look out for malware, your online safety is improved.
—Alexander Cox, Space.com, 2 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for on line
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adjective
This reminded me that in 2015, many newsrooms would look at a now-defunct online tool called CrowdTangle to see what kinds of stories were performing the best for other outlets.
—Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 3 Jan. 2026
Rachel Hutchison, manager of online instructional design at the National Head Start Association, helped align Cabinet of Wonder material with Head Start standards — such as fine and gross motor control, cognitive development and emotional and behavioral development.
—Darcel Rockett, Chicago Tribune, 3 Jan. 2026
Illinois now allows certain public officials to request the removal of personal details such as home addresses and information about their children, responding to growing concerns about harassment and online targeting.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 2 Jan. 2026
But, by getting a dedicated IP address and having security features that block ads and trackers and look out for malware, your online safety is improved.
—Alexander Cox, Space.com, 2 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for on line
Cite this Entry
“On line.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20line. Accessed 7 Jan. 2026.
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