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 

-ˌnän

noun

Synonyms of sign on

• sign up (for)
• join
• enter
• enroll (in)
• rejoin
• enlist (in)

Examples of sign on in a Sentence

I signed on for the crew team simply as a lark

Recent Examples on the Web

Scout told local news outlet PhillyVoice that BlackStar Projects, Monument Lab, DesignPhiladelphia, the Stained Glass Project, and 45 other artists, makers, and small retail businesses have currently signed on as tenants within the development. — News Desk, Artforum, 14 Aug. 2026

This week Nicholas Hoult signed on to play Gilderoy Lockhart. — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 14 Aug. 2026

India signed on as the 27th signatory in 2023, joining a coalition that has now grown to 70 nations. — Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 14 Aug. 2026

The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty was signed on December 8, 1987, which was an enormous step forward to the end of the Cold War, which ultimately concluded with the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. — Barry Levitt, Time, 14 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for sign on

• anton
• argon
• axon
• baronne
• baryon
• baton
• boron
• buisson
• bygone
• capon
• cardon
• chiffon

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