sign on

verb

signed on; signing on; signs on

intransitive verb

1
: to engage oneself by or as if by a signature
signed on to the new project
2
: to announce the start of broadcasting for the day
sign-on
ˈsī-ˌnȯn How to pronounce sign on (audio)
-ˌnän
noun

Examples of sign on in a Sentence

I signed on for the crew team simply as a lark
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.
The company is also an official NBA sponsor, signing on with the league (and the WNBA) in 2019 as part of a multiyear deal worth some $30 million per season. Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 8 Oct. 2025 That about sums up the Rangers’ back-end makeover, which saw K’Andre Miller shipped to Carolina and Gavrikov sign on a massive UFA pact. Harman Dayal, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025 The 2026 frame will be more expansive with a number of new teams signing on. William Earl, Variety, 7 Oct. 2025 Jaden has signed on to executive produce and voice a role in Mfinda, which is in preproduction. Kimberly Nordyke, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2025 After signing on and learning that E Street Band keyboardist Charlie Giordano would be the only other musician on the project, Campbell started his prep by relistening to Nebraska and focusing on the subtle overdubs Springsteen added to his voice-and-guitar basics. David Browne, Rolling Stone, 6 Oct. 2025 She’s signed on, along with more than 550 celebrities including Billie Eilish and Janelle Monáe, to revive the free-speech group Committee for the First Amendment. Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2025 The post garnered hundreds of comments, with the majority of people advising the woman to go ahead with signing on the apartment. Latoya Gayle, PEOPLE, 5 Oct. 2025 The Full Moon in your sign on October 6th feels like a personal rebirth, one that’s been building since the solar eclipse in Aries back on March 29th. Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 5 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sign on was in 1879

Cite this Entry

“Sign on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sign%20on. Accessed 14 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

sign on

verb
(ˈ)sī-ˈnȯn,
-ˈnän
1
: to hire oneself by or as if by a signature
signed on as a member of the crew
2
: to announce the beginning of broadcasting

More from Merriam-Webster on sign on

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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