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onto
Listen:
UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations weak: /ˈɒntu/ /ˈɒntə/, strong: /ˈɒntuː/ US:USA pronunciation: IPAUSA pronunciation: IPA/ˈɑntu, ˈɔn-; unstressed ˈɑntə, ˈɔn-/ US:USA pronunciation: respellingUSA pronunciation: respelling(on′to̅o̅, ôn′-; unstressed on′tə, ôn′-)
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026on•to /ˈɑntu, ˈɔn-; unstressed ˈɑntə, ˈɔn-/USA pronunciation
prep.
- to a place or position on;
upon;
on:They pulled him onto his feet.
- Informal Termsaware of the true nature, motive, or meaning of:I'm onto your tricks.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026on•to
(on′to̅o̅, ôn′-; unstressed on′tə, ôn′-),USA pronunciation prep.
- to a place or position on;
upon;
on:to get onto a horse.
- Informal Termsin or into a state of awareness about:I'm onto your scheme.
adj. - MathematicsAlso, surjective. pertaining to a function or map from one set to another set, the range of which is the entire second set.
onto-,
- a combining form meaning "being,'' used in the formation of compound words:ontogeny.
- Greek ont- (stem of ón, neuter present participle of eînai to be) + -o- -o-
- Neo-Latin
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
onto, on to /ˈɒntʊ; (unstressed) ˈɒntə/ prep - to a position that is on: step onto the train
- having become aware of (something illicit or secret): the police are onto us
- into contact with: get onto the factory
USAGE
on /ɑn, ɔn/USA pronunciation
prep.
- so as to be or to remain supported by:Put the package on the table.
- so as to be attached to or unified with:There is a label on the jar.
- so as to be a covering or wrapping for:Put the blanket on the baby.
- in connection, association, or cooperation with:to serve on a jury.
- so as to be a supporting part or base of:legs on a chair.
- (used to show that the preceding noun has the following noun as its place, location, situation, etc.):an ugly scar on the face.
- very close to;
at the edge of:a house on the lake.
- in the direction of:to sail on a southerly course.
- using as a means of carrying or of supporting or providing movement:arrived on the noon plane.
- by the agency or means of:drunk on wine.
- directed against or toward:She played a joke on him.
- having as a subject;
being about (something):a new book on dogs.
- in a state, condition, or process of:The workers are on strike.
- engaged in or involved with:I'm on the second chapter of the book.
- subject to:If there is a doctor on call it means that a doctor can be summoned quickly in an emergency.
- having as a source or agent:He came to depend on his friends.
- having as a basis or ground:on my word of honor.
- assigned to or working at:Who's on duty today?
- (used with days and dates) at the time mentioned:The train arrives every hour on the hour (= at one, two, three o'clock, etc.)
- at the time or occasion of:You have to pay cash on delivery (= at the time delivery is made).
- within the required limits of:The train arrived on time.
- having as the object or end of motion:The demonstrators marched on the capital.
- having as the object or the goal of action, thought, desire, etc.:to gaze on a scene.
- having as the subject or reference;
with respect to:What are your views on rock music?
- Informal Termspaid for by, esp. as a treat or gift:Dinner is on me.
- taking or using as a measure or cure to improve one's health, energy, etc.:He's on a low-salt diet.
- regularly taking or addicted to:She's not on drugs anymore.
- Informal Termswith;
carried by:I have no money on me.
- so as to disturb or affect in a bad way:My hair dryer broke on me.
- having as a risk or unfortunate result:on pain of death.
- in addition to:millions on millions of stars.
adv. - in, into, or onto a position of being supported or attached:Sew the buttons on.
- in, into, or onto a position of covering or wrapping:Put your raincoat on.
- tightly attached to a thing, such as for support:Hold on!
- toward a place, point, activity, or object:to look on while others work.
- forward, onward, or along, such as in any course or process later on:further on.
- with continuous activity:continued on with his job.
- into or in active operation or performance:Turn the gas on.
adj. [be + ~]
- operating or in use:Is the radio on?
- taking place;
occurring:Don't you know there's a war on?
- being broadcast:What's on tonight, anything interesting to watch?
- scheduled or planned:Do you have anything on for tomorrow?
- Informal Terms
- behaving in a very animated or theatrical manner:He never stops and just relaxes; he's always on.
- functioning or performing at one's best:The pitcher is really on today.
Idioms
- Idioms on and off, with periods of time in between;
intermittently.
- Idioms on and on, at great length:to chatter on and on.Compare
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026on
(on, ôn),USA pronunciation prep.
- so as to be or remain supported by or suspended from:Put your package down on the table; Hang your coat on the hook.
- so as to be attached to or unified with:Hang the picture on the wall. Paste the label on the package.
- so as to be a covering or wrapping for:Put the blanket on the baby. Put aluminum foil on the lamb chops before freezing them.
- in connection, association, or cooperation with;
as a part or element of:to serve on a jury.
- so as to be a supporting part, base, backing, etc., of:a painting on canvas;mounted on cardboard;legs on a chair.
- (used to indicate place, location, situation, etc.):a scar on the face;the book on the table;a house on 19th Street.
- (used to indicate immediate proximity):a house on the lake; to border on absurdity.
- in the direction of:on the left; to sail on a southerly course.
- (used to indicate a means of conveyance or a means of supporting or supplying movement):on the wing; This car runs on electricity. Can you walk on your hands? I'll be there on the noon plane.
- by the agency or means of:drunk on wine;talking on the phone;I saw it on television.
- in addition to:millions on millions of stars.
- with respect or regard to (used to indicate the object of an action directed against or toward):Let's play a joke on him. Write a critical essay on Shakespeare.
- in a state or condition of;
in the process of:on strike; The house is on fire!
- subject to:a doctor on call.
- engaged in or involved with:He's on the second chapter now.
- (used to indicate a source or a person or thing that serves as a source or agent):a duty on imported goods; She depends on her friends for encouragement.
- (used to indicate a basis or ground):on my word of honor; The movie is based on the book.
- (used to indicate risk or liability):on pain of death.
- (used to indicate progress toward or completion of an objective):We completed the project on budget.
- assigned to or occupied with;
operating:Who's on the switchboard this afternoon?
- [Informal.]so as to disturb or affect adversely:My hair dryer broke on me.
- Informal Termspaid for by, esp. as a treat or gift:Dinner is on me.
- taking or using as a prescribed measure, cure, or the like:The doctor had her on a low-salt diet.
- regularly taking or addicted to:He was on drugs for two years.
- Informal Termswith;
carried by:I have no money on me.
- (used to indicate time or occasion):on Sunday; We demand cash on delivery.
- (used to indicate the object or end of motion):to march on the capital.
- (used to indicate the object or end of action, thought, desire, etc.):to gaze on a scene.
- (used to indicate subject, reference, or respect):views on public matters.
- (used to indicate an encounter):The pickpocket crept up on a victim.
- on the bow, [Naut.]bow3 (def. 7).
adv. - in, into, or onto a position of being supported or attached:Sew the buttons on.
- in, into, or onto a position of covering or wrapping:Put your raincoat on.
- fast to a thing, as for support:Hold on!
- toward a place, point, activity, or object:to look on while others work.
- forward, onward, or along, as in any course or process:further on.
- with continuous activity:to work on.
- into or in active operation or performance:Turn the gas on.
- Idioms on and off, off (def. 22a).
- Idioms on and on, at great length, so as to become tiresome:They rambled on and on about their grandchildren.
adj. - operating or in use:The television set was on. Is your brake on?
- taking place;
occurring:Don't you know there's a war on?
- performing or broadcasting:The radio announcer told us we were on.
- Informal Terms
- behaving in a theatrical, lively, or ingratiating way:Around close friends, one doesn't have to be on every minute.
- functioning or performing at one's best:When she's on, no other tennis player is half as good.
- scheduled or planned:Anything on after supper?
- Sport[Baseball.]positioned on a base or bases:They had two men on when he hit the home run.
- Sport[Cricket.]noting that side of the wicket, or of the field, on which the batsman stands.
- Idioms on to, aware of the true nature, motive, or meaning of:I'm on to your little game.
n. - Sport[Cricket.]the on side.
- bef. 900; Middle English on, an, Old English: on, in, to; cognate with Dutch aan, German an, Old Norse ā, Gothic ana; akin to Greek aná up, upon (see ana-)
- Bible, Place NamesBiblical name of Heliopolis.
ON,
- Language VarietiesOld Norse.
Also, ON., O.N.
- AbbreviationsOntario, Canada (approved for postal use).
-on1 ,
- Physicsa suffix used in the names of subatomic particles (gluon;
meson;
neutron), quanta (graviton), and other minimal entities or components (cistron;
codon;
magneton;
photon).
- compare proton probably extracted from
,
- Chemistrya suffix used in the naming of inert gaseous elements:neon.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
onto- combining form - existence or being: ontogeny, ontology
Etymology: from Late Greek, from ōn (stem ont-) being, present participle of einai to be
'onto' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
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