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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Those include making people verify old account information when requesting a change and requiring comptroller office staff to speak with a vendor’s representative on the phone to finalize an account change. David Clarey, jsonline.com, 3 Sep. 2025 She was left stranded for hours in the vehicle while on the phone to the Palestinian Red Cross Society as paramedics attempted to rescue her. Alex Ritman, Variety, 3 Sep. 2025 Within minutes, the child is on the phone. Damon Wise, Deadline, 3 Sep. 2025 Their argument, the report says, started when he was awakened by Canizares on the phone outside the house. Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for on the phone

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Cite this Entry

“On the phone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20the%20phone. Accessed 6 Sep. 2025.

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