on-screen

adverb or adjective

ˈȯn-ˈskrēn 

ˈän-

variants or onscreen

1

: in a movie or a television program

But the makers of the 1958 movie understood that this most subtle of writers was telling a tale about the froth of life, and they celebrated it on-screen with gusto.

—Gerald Asher

The sixth-grader reportedly earned $1 million for starring in the upcoming My Girl, which pairs him with Anna Chlumsky for his first onscreen kiss.

—Alexander Tresniowski

2

: on a computer or television screen

You can watch a football game, see a small icon onscreen offering player statistics, click it with the remote, and view the stats.

—Edward W. Desmond

… handheld joysticks and gamepads that jolt and jar with the on-screen action.

—Leigh Gallagher

Examples of on-screen in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

News of Eric Dane’s death Thursday was met with an outpouring of grief by celebrities, who expressed their admiration for the TV star’s mischievous on-screen charisma and his advocacy efforts during his battle against ALS. —Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026

How Kit Harington Ended Up In the Film The behind-the-scenes footage arrived roughly six months after Turner first discussed the awkwardness of kissing her former on-screen sibling. —Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 20 Feb. 2026

In an on-screen process, Gomis brings professional actors and non-actors together, casting them as members of the same extended family. —Teresa Xie, NPR, 20 Feb. 2026

While Chopra Jonas tapped hairstylist Irinel de León to craft her bombshell blowout for the 83rd annual Golden Globe Awards in January, the on-screen star worked with Bridget Brager on her trendy, rock star hair for the Tuesday premiere. —Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 18 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1929, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for on-screen

• agin
• alkene
• allene
• ameen
• amin
• amine
• arene
• athene
• baleen
• beeline
• benzene
• between