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

This coincided with her signing on to AHS 13 as well as Focker-in-Law, out November 25. — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 10 July 2026

More than 30 companies signed on at launch, spanning traditional processors and crypto infrastructure providers (Fortune). — Christer Holloman, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026

Zawadzki signed on June 30 with coach Kirin Kumar at Ohio State, where she’ll be reunited with Sara Tarr, a former summer teammate and West Aurora alum. — Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2026

The French Space Agency has also signed on, according to Orbitworks. — Amy Gunia, CNN Money, 9 July 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