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.
Given his record of choosing free agency, Tromp is expected to become a free agent yet again within the next few weeks, electing to leave the Red Sox and attempt to sign on with another organization. Jon Vankin, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025 The two firms will pay the city roughly $25,000 to replace street signs on the roughly one-mile stretch of road. Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Oct. 2025 Last week, reporters for major broadcast and cable news networks, including Fox News, as well as The Associated Press, The New York Times and The Washington Post declined to sign on to the new Pentagon policy. Ted Johnson, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2025 So Bell signed on and promptly began studying Foster’s mannerisms and tacking up images of her various looks to the walls. Lacey Rose, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2025 In both places, his interlocutors signed on to the peace plan, put forward by the American president, that ended, at least for now, a two-year long war and returned the living hostages to Israel. Barry Strauss, Time, 21 Oct. 2025 Florida was also among the first to require all county law enforcement agencies to sign on to the 287(g) program. Rafael Carranza, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2025 Clearly fans couldn't get enough of the three Spider-Man actors together since Garfield is already fielding rumors that he's signed on to the latest installment of the blockbuster franchise. Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Oct. 2025 Did that inspired Elaine Hendrix, who famously starred as Meredith Blake, to sign on as a producer? Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 20 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 24 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!