See Also: to 2, preposition(dictionary)
for 1, preposition(dictionary)
given 3, preposition(dictionary)
gone 3, preposition(dictionary)
less 3, preposition(dictionary)
like 1, preposition(dictionary)
out 2, preposition(dictionary)
on 1, preposition(dictionary)
over 1, preposition(dictionary)
plus 1, preposition(dictionary)

on 1, preposition (oh)



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1 ?on a surface?
2 ?supporting your body?
3 ?part hit/touched?
4 ?written/shown?
5 ?attached?
6 ?place?
7 ?position?
8 ?looking/pointing?
9 ?day/date?
10 ?affecting/relating to?
11 ?about?
12 ?orders/advice?
13 ?eat/drink?
14 ?transport?
15 ?money?
16 ?fuel?
17 ?medicine/drugs?
18 what's somebody on?
19 ?using equipment?
20 ?musical instruments?
21 ?radio/television?
22 ?recorded?
23 ?activity/journey?
24 ?included?
25 ?when something happens?
26 ?compared with something?
27 ?carrying something?
28 ?pay?
29 ?telephone number?
30 ?causing somebody problems?
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[Language: Old English; Origin:]
?ON A SURFACE?
a) touching a surface or being supported by a surface
::Leave your things on the table over there.
::People were sunbathing on the grass.
::The little girl was sitting on her father's shoulders.
see usage note at
b) used to say that someone or something moves so that they are then touching or supported by a surface
::snow falling on the mountainsides
::He threw himself on the bed.
?SUPPORTING YOUR BODY?
used to say what part of someone's body is touching the ground or another surface and supporting their weight
::She was on her feet in no time.
::He was on his hands and knees searching for something.
::Can you stand on your head?
?PART HIT/TOUCHED?
used to say what part of someone or something is hit or touched
::I wanted to punch him on the nose.
::Matt kissed her on the cheek.
?WRITTEN/SHOWN?
used to say where something is written or shown
::There's a diagram on page 25.
::He wrote his phone number on a piece of paper.
?ATTACHED?
attached to or hanging from something
::She hung her coat on a hook.
::Dogs must be kept on a lead at all times.
?PLACE?
in a particular place
::The town is right on the border.
::Is there a water supply on the island?
::He grew up on a ranch in California.
::a store on Fifth Avenue
?POSITION?
in a particular position in relation to something else
::You'll see the school on your left.
::They live on the opposite side of the town.
?LOOKING/POINTING?
looking or pointing towards something or someone
::His eyes were on the stranger standing in the doorway.
::She trained her binoculars on the house.
?DAY/DATE?
during a particular day
::They'll be here on Tuesday.
::I was born on July 1st.
::We'll see you on Christmas Eve.
?AFFECTING/RELATING TO?
affecting or relating to someone or something
::a tax on cigarettes
::his influence on young people
::There will be new restrictions on the sale of weapons.
::What effect will these changes have on the tourist industry?
?ABOUT?
about a particular subject
::Do you have any books on India?
::You can get information on local services by calling this number.
::an international conference on global warming
?ORDERS/ADVICE?
as a result of someone's order, request, or advice
::He was killed on the king's orders.
::I accepted the offer on the advice of my lawyer.
?EAT/DRINK?
used to talk about what someone usually eats or drinks
::They live mainly on beans, lentils and rice.
::Is your baby on solid food yet?
?TRANSPORT?
a) in or into a bus, train, plane etc
-opposite off off
::Did you manage to sleep on the plane?
::Tommy should be on the six o'clock train.
::She got on the first bus that came along.
b) riding something
::a statue of the king on horseback
::I'll probably come on my bike.
?MONEY?
receiving money for a job or as a regular payment
::He's on quite a good salary now.
::She must be on at least ¡ê50,000 a year.
::the difficulties faced by families on low incomes
?FUEL?
using a particular type of fuel or power
::Most buses run on diesel.
::Does it work on mains electricity?
?MEDICINE/DRUGS?
taking a particular drug or medicine regularly
-opposite off off
::Are you still on antibiotics?
::The doctor put her on Prozac.
::A lot of these kids are on heroin by the age of twelve.
what's sb on?
spoken used to say that someone is behaving in a very strange way, as if they are taking an illegal drug
?USING EQUIPMENT?
using a machine or piece of equipment
::He's been on the computer all afternoon.
::Is Rachel still on the phone?
?MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS?
playing a musical instrument
::He played a short piece on the piano.
::The album features Rick Wakeman on keyboards.
?RADIO/TELEVISION?
being broadcast by radio or television
::What's on TV tonight?
::Did you hear that programme on the radio last night?
?RECORDED?
used to say in what form information is stored or music, films etc are recorded
::The movie is now available on video and DVD.
::I always keep a backup copy on disk.
?ACTIVITY/JOURNEY?
taking part in an activity or travelling somewhere
::She's on a course all this week.
::I met him on vacation in Canada.
::My girlfriend is often away on business trips.
?INCLUDED?
included in a group or team of people or in a list
::Are you still on the management committee?
::Mr Edwards is no longer on the staff here.
::Whose team are you on?
::There was no steak on the menu.
::What's the next item on the agenda?
?WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS?
formal as soon as someone has done something or as soon as something has happened
::Couples are presented with a bottle of wine on their arrival at the hotel.
::All patients are examined on admission to the hospital.
on doing sth
::What was your reaction on seeing him?
?COMPARED WITH SOMETHING?
compared with another person or thing
::This essay is a definite improvement on your last one.
::Sales are 10% up on last year.
?CARRYING SOMETHING?
informal if you have something on you, you have it in your pocket, your bag etc
::I don't have any money on me.
?PAY?
be on sb
spoken used to say who is going to pay for something
::The drinks are on me!
::Each table will get a bottle of champagne on the house (=paid for by the restaurant, hotel etc) .
?TELEPHONE NUMBER?
used to say what number you should use in order to telephone someone
American Equivalent: at
::You can contact me on this number.
?CAUSING SOMEBODY PROBLEMS?
used when something bad happens to you, for example when something you are using suddenly stops working, or someone you have a relationship with suddenly leaves you
::Suddenly the telephone went dead on me.
::Dorothy's first husband walked out on her.