As used of place or position with regard to the upper and external part of something:In such a position as to be supported, upheld, or borne by; with the support of; by means of: as, to go on wheels, on runners, or on all fours; to hang on a nail.Noting the goal or terminal point to which some motion or action expressed by an intransitive verb is or has been directed and in which it rests: as, to dote on her child; to look on his face; to insist on a settlement; to resolve on a course of action; to live on an income; to dwell on a subject.Noting the object to, for, or against which, or by virtue or on the strength of which, some action or operation is directed, performed, or carried out: as, to spend money on finery; to have compassion on the poor; to prove a charge on (that is, against) a man; to bet on one's success; to make war on Russia.About; concerning; in regard to; on the subject of: as, Pope's “Essay on Criticism”; a sermon on Death; to agree on a plan of operations; to tell tales on a person.Noting the instrument with or by which some action is performed: as, to play on the piano; to swear on the Bible.Noting the ground, basis, motive, method, reason, or reliance of or for some action: as, on certain terms or conditions; on a promise of secrecy; on purpose; on parol; hence, as used in asseverations and oaths, by: as, on the word of a gentleman; on my honor.In betting, in support of the chances of; on the side of: as, I bet on the red against the black. Hence. to be on, to have made a bet or bets; to be well on, to have laid bets so as to stand a good chance of winning.As used of position with reference to external surface or to surface in general:Fastened to or suspended from: as, he wears a seal on is watch-chain.In a position of being attached to or forming part of: as, he was on the staff or on the committee.As used of relative position:In the precise direction of; exactly conforming to or agreeing with: as, on the line; on the bull's eye; on the key (in music).To; toward; in the general direction of.After: with follow.After and in consequence of; from, as a cause: as, on this we separated.At the time of: expressing occurrence in time: as, he arrived on Wednesday; on the evening before the battle; on public occasions.In addition to: as, heaps on heaps; loss on loss.In, to, or into a state or condition of: as, ale on tap (that is, ready to be drawn); to set a house on fire; all on a heap (that is, heaped up). Compare asleep, afire, etc., where a- was originally on.In the act or process of; occupied with: as, on the march; on duty; on one's guard. Compare a-fishing, a-hunting, where a- was originally on.In; into: in various uses now generally expressed by in or into: as, to break on pieces; to cleave on two parts; to read or write on book.Over.To.At.With.For.From.By.Of.Synonyms On, Upon. These words are in many uses identical in force, but upon is by origin (up + on) and in use more distinctly expressive of motion to the object from above or from the side. On has the same force, but is so widely used in other ways, and so often expresses mere rest, that it is felt by careful writers to be inadequate to the uses for which upon is preferred.In or into a position in contact with and supported by the top or upper part of something; up: as, keep your hat on; he stopped a street-car, and got on.In or into place, as a garment or other covering, or an ornament: as, to pull on one's clothes; to put on one's boots; to try on a hat.In or into place or position for use or action: as, to bring on the fruit or the coffee; specifically, into position on a stage or platform, before the footlights or an audience.In or into movement or action; in or into a condition of activity from a state of confinement or restraint: as, to turn on the gas; to bring on a fit of coughing; to bring on a contest.In operation; in progress: as, the auction is going on; the debate is on.In the same place or position; without yielding: as, to hang, stick, or hold on.To or at something serving as an object of observation: as, to look on without taking part; to be a mere looker-on.Forth; forward; onward; ahead: as, move on; pass on.In the same course or direction: as, go straight on (that is, in continuance of some action, operation, or relation that has been begun); in regular continuance or sequence: as, go, write, say, laugh, keep on; go on with your story; how long will you keep on trifling? from father to son, from son to grandson, and so on.In advance; forward; in the sequel.In the direction of progress, advancement, achievement, or attainment: as, to get on in the world; to be well on in one's courtship.Toward; so as to approach; near; nigh.Alternately away from and toward the shore: said of a ship: as, to stand off and on.See the verbs.In cricket, noting that part of the field to the left of a right-handed batter and to the right of the bowler: the opposite of off.n. In cricket, that part of the field to the right of the bowler and to the left of the batter.n. An obsolete form of one.Without: usually followed by a perfect participle with being or having (which may be omitted): as, could na ye mind, on being tauld sa aften?A prefix of Anglo-Saxon origin, being the preposition or adverb on used as a prefix, with its usual meanings. See examples below.An obsolete form of the prefix an- as in answer, etc.An obsolete or dialectal form of the negative prefix un-.An obsolete or dialectal form of the prefix un- before verbs.In coal-mining, in a direction parallel to the main cleavage-planes or -joints of a coal-seam, and at right angles to the end-joints.An abbreviation of Old Norse.An abbreviation of Old Northern French.