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

The film centers on Prabha, a troubled young man whose sudden and unexplained death triggers a ripple effect across his extended family and community. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 17 July 2026

Trump’s fixation on false claims about the 2020 election made Thursday night’s address a fraught event for every organization in the business of live news coverage. — Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 17 July 2026

Former Boise State football head coach Lyle Setencich, who was in charge of the program for the first game on the now-iconic blue turf, died on June 23, the program announced late Thursday afternoon. — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 17 July 2026

SpaceX’s goals for Flight 13 of Starship include testing several changes intended to overcome the engine issues on Flight 12 two months ago. — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 17 July 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