English words starting with on

Meanings of On:

preposition

Physically in contact with and supported by (a surface).

Usage examples:

On the table was a water jug

adverb

Physically in contact with and supported by a surface.

Usage examples:

Make sure the lid is on

noun

The leg side.

Usage examples:

Playing a ball pitched on the off stump to the on side was satisfying.

suffix

Forming nouns denoting subatomic particles or quanta.

Usage examples:

Neutron

abbreviation

Ontario (in official postal use).

Meanings of On a hiding to nothing:

phrase

Be unlikely to succeed, or be unlikely to gain much advantage if one does.

Usage examples:

Politically we are on a hiding to nothing in the long run

idiom

To be trying to do something when there is no chance that you will succeed

Meanings of On a shoestring:

idiom

If you do something on a shoestring, you do it with a very small amount of money

Usage examples:

The film was made on a shoestring.

Meanings of On a wing and a prayer:

phrase

With only the slightest chance of success.

Usage examples:

To ignore this is to run your business on a wing and a prayer, which is pure chance and takes your …

idiom

If you do something on a wing and a prayer, you do it hoping that you will succeed, although you are not prepared enough for it

Usage examples:

With hardly any funding and a staff of six, they were operating on a wing and a prayer.

Meanings of On all fours:

phrase

On hands and knees or (of an animal) on all four legs rather than just the hind ones.

Usage examples:

Frankie scuttled away on all fours

idiom

Having both knees and hands on the ground

Usage examples:

Shirelle was on all fours, looking for her contact lens.

Meanings of On cloud nine:

phrase

Extremely happy.

Usage examples:

I was on cloud nine once i had completed it

idiom

To be extremely happy and excited

Usage examples:

"was helen pleased about getting that job?" "pleased? she was on cloud nine!"

Meanings of On end:

idiom

Continuously

Usage examples:

She practices the violin for hours on end.

Meanings of On guard:

idiom

Vigilant

phrase

On duty to protect or defend something.

Usage examples:

Security staff are permanently on guard

Meanings of On occasion:

idiom

Now and then or here and there

phrase

Occasionally; from time to time.

Usage examples:

On occasion, the state was asked to intervene

Meanings of On one's guard:

idiom

Vigilant

Meanings of On point:

phrase

Relevant and appropriate to what is happening or being discussed.

Usage examples:

None of the above comments are on point

idiom

As good as it could be; perfect

Usage examples:

My hair was on point.

Meanings of On purpose:

idiom

With intention; in an intentional manner

phrase

Intentionally.

Usage examples:

He was being annoying on purpose

Meanings of On tenterhooks:

phrase

In a state of suspense or agitation because of uncertainty about a future event.

Usage examples:

He was on tenterhooks waiting for the director's decision

noun

Worried or nervous about something that is going to happen

Usage examples:

We were on tenterhooks all morning waiting for the phone to ring.

Meanings of On the average:

idiom

Typically

Meanings of On the back burner:

idiom

Not being done now, but left to be considered in the future

Usage examples:

The company put the project on the back burner., their complaints have definitely been pushed to th…

Meanings of On the back foot:

phrase

Outmanoeuvred by a competitor or opponent; at a disadvantage.

Usage examples:

Messi's early goal put milan on the back foot

Meanings of On the ball:

Aware of any changes or developments and quick to react to them

Usage examples:

We need someone who’s really on the ball to answer questions from the press.

phrase

Alert to new ideas, methods, and trends.

Usage examples:

Maintaining contact with customers keeps me on the ball

Meanings of On the beat:

phrase

A police officer who is on the beat or walking the beat is on duty, walking around rather than driving in a police car

Usage examples:

Most people would like to see more bobbies on the beat in their area., having more officers on the …

Meanings of On the bubble:

phrase

(of a sports player or team) occupying the last qualifying position on a team or for a tournament, and liable to be replaced by another.

Usage examples:

He's never lived up to his high selection, and is on the bubble for a roster spot

idiom

Not certain to get a place in a team, keep your job, win an election, etc.

Usage examples:

Those who had not gained their paramedic certification were "on the bubble" with regard to keeping …

Meanings of On the dot:

phrase

Exactly on time.

Usage examples:

He arrived on the dot at nine o'clock

idiom

Exactly at the stated or expected time

Usage examples:

The plane landed at two o'clock on the dot., uk she came promptly on the dot of eleven.

Meanings of On the fence:

idiom

Characterized by uncertainty or indecision

Meanings of On the nose:

idiom

Being precise with regard to a specified criterion

phrase

To a person's sense of smell.

Usage examples:

The wine is pungently smoky and peppery on the nose

Meanings of On the off chance:

noun

Hoping that something may be possible, although it is not likely

Usage examples:

I applied for the job on the off chance that they might like me, but i didn't seriously expect to g…

Meanings of On the q.t.:

phrase

Secretly; stealthily.

Usage examples:

Brenda nipped round on the q.t

Meanings of On the radar:

noun

A device or system for finding the position or speed of objects, such as aircraft, that cannot be seen, by measuring the direction and timing of short radio waves that are sent out and reflect back from the objects