on line

1 of 2

phrase

Synonyms of on linenext
: in or into operation
bringing the new factory on line

online

2 of 2

adjective

: connected to, served by, or available through a system and especially a computer or telecommunications system (such as the Internet)
an online database
also : done while connected to such a system
online shopping
online games
online searching
online adverb

Examples of on line in a Sentence

Adjective The city libraries are all online. He likes to engage in online chats.
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.
Adjective
Los Angeles voters appeared poised Tuesday to approve measures related to cannabis business taxes and hotel tax collection rules for online travel companies while rejecting a separate proposal to increase the city’s hotel occupancy tax, according to election returns released throughout the evening. Teresa Liu, Daily News, 3 June 2026 As new tools emerge for hackers, so too do new responses emerge in the world of online protection, creating this cycle that keeps spurring on further innovation and progression. William Jones, USA Today, 3 June 2026 This haunting series, which has over 200 million views, was a part of a larger online movement on platforms like Reddit and TikTok that became fixated on mysterious spaces. Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026 After building a massive online following, the movie has hit a nerve with Gen Z, with half of the opening weekend audience under 25 and 75 percent under 35. Aaron Couch, HollywoodReporter, 3 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for on line

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1950, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of on line was in 1950

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“On line.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20line. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

online

adjective
ˈȯn-ˈlīn
ˈän-
: relating to or connected to a computer or telecommunications system (as the Internet)
an online database
online adverb

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