Synonyms of on

on 1 of 3

preposition

ˈȯn 

1

as in toward

having to do with

books on sports heroes are my favorite reading matter

Synonyms & Similar Words

• toward
• regarding
• about
• concerning
• of
• with regard to
• with respect to
• touching
• in regard to
• respecting
• as for
• as regards
• in respect to
• as to
• in view of
• as far as
• apropos of
• over
• apropos

2

as in against

in or into contact with

don't lean on that ladder—you'll knock it over

Synonyms & Similar Words

• against
• upon
• next
• alongside
• upside
• next to

on

2 of 3

adverb

1

as in forward

toward a point ahead in space or time

we really must move on now if we're going to end this meeting before midnight

Synonyms & Similar Words

• forward
• forth
• onward
• ahead

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• backward

2

as in along

toward or at a point lying in advance in space or time

he's getting on in years and doesn't see or hear as well as he used to

Synonyms & Similar Words

• along
• forward
• forth
• onward
• forwards
• ahead
• before
• fore
• frontward

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• back
• behind
• backward
• rearward

on

3 of 3

adjective

as in operating

being in effective operation

please don't leave the sanding machine on if you're not going to be near it

Synonyms & Similar Words

• operating
• operational
• operative
• going
• running
• functioning
• working
• active
• live
• in force
• operable
• functional
• alive
• in commission
• on line
• living
• effective
• in gear
• producing
• viable
• effectual
• performing
• serving
• useful
• busy
• usable
• flourishing
• productive
• workable
• humming
• yielding
• dynamic
• employable
• bustling
• thriving
• roaring
• astir

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dead
• broken
• inactive
• inoperative
• nonfunctional
• nonfunctioning
• nonoperative
• useless
• ineffective
• ineffectual
• nonoperational
• nonactivated
• idle
• nonoperating
• dormant
• kaput
• latent
• decommissioned
• arrested
• deactivated
• inoperable
• inert
• unusable
• unworkable
• lifeless
• quiescent
• unproductive
• asleep
• fallow
• sleepy
• nonproductive
• vegetating
• stagnating

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of on

Preposition

Democrats have vowed not to support the funding measure unless there are guardrails placed on the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). —Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 30 Jan. 2026

Indeed, there’s a full five days to wait after AMPAS lifts the lid on the 2026 lineup of nominees on Thursday to discover the decision of British Academy voters on Jan. 27. —Alex Ritman, Variety, 22 Jan. 2026

The logic of Duke trying to stop Mensah from transferring is based on Mensah, as a football player, agreeing to not switch schools. —Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 22 Jan. 2026

At the time, Andersson was third on the team in scoring. —CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026

Phrases Containing on

• bang on
• bank on
• be on the lookout for
• bear down on
• beat up on
• big on
• bring on
• call on
• carry on
• catch on (to)
• check up on
• chew on
• chip on one's shoulder
• come on
• die on the vine
• do a number on
• down on
• down on one's luck
• draw on
• dump on
• egg on one's face
• fall back on
• fall on one's face
• figure on
• get a move on
• get on
• get on (to)
• get on one's nerves
• getting it on
• go back on
• go on
• goof on
• handwriting on the wall
• hang on to
• hang one on
• have a grip on
• have on
• have one's eye on
• hold on
• hold on to
• keep an eye on
• lay eyes on
• lay on
• laying on of hands
• lead on
• let on
• let on (about)
• load up on
• make good on
• man on horseback
• miss out on
• off and on
• on a dime
• on account of
• on all hands
• on an even keel
• on and off
• on cloud nine
• on deck
• on edge
• on end
• on even keel
• on every hand
• on file
• on fire
• on guard
• on hand
• on line
• on no account
• on occasion
• on one's doorstep
• on one's mettle
• on one's own
• on one's own hook
• on one's own initiative
• on one's toes
• on pins and needles
• on purpose
• on record
• on tap
• on tenterhooks
• on the alert
• on the ball
• on the bias
• on the blink
• on the button
• on the cards
• on the contrary
• on the diagonal
• on the double
• on the far side of
• on the fence
• on the fritz
• on the go
• on the house
• on the level
• on the money
• on the move
• on the nose
• on the order of
• on the qui vive
• on the rack
• on the shelf
• on the spot
• on the spur of the moment
• on the surface
• on the warpath
• on the whole
• on tiptoe
• on top of
• pat on the back
• pick on
• pick up on
• push on
• put on
• put on an act
• put one's finger on
• put the kibosh on
• put/place (someone) on a pedestal
• rag on
• ride herd on
• round on
• run on
• set eyes on
• set on
• set one's heart on
• set one's teeth on edge
• set store on
• sign on (for)
• stand on
• step on it
• stuck on
• sweet on
• take on
• thick on the ground
• thin on the ground
• throw cold water on
• trade on
• turn on
• turn one's back on
• wait on
• walk on
• walk out on
• wear on