online
ON-lyn
Online (adj) means Connected to the internet or another network, and actively available or in use. Example: “Her laptop has been online all day downloading updates.”
adj
1
Connected to the internet or another network, and actively available or in use.
"Her laptop has been online all day downloading updates."
"The store only sells its limited-edition sneakers online."
"Is the printer online yet, or do I need to restart it?"
2
Of a factory, power plant, or piece of equipment: switched on and actively running.
"The new reactor is expected to come online next spring."
"Once the pumping station is online, the town's water supply will improve."
"The wind turbines went online last week and are working well."
verb
1
To bring a system, service, or piece of equipment into active, running use.
"Engineers onlined the backup generator within minutes of the outage."
"The technicians onlined the second server so it could share the load."
"We will online the new heating system once the pipes are checked."
How to use online
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishConnected to a network (usually the internet) and currently active, or being switched into active use.
Common pairings
shop online
come online
online store
stay online
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like online.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Third person singular
- onlines
- Past tense
- onlined
- Comparative
- more online
- Superlative
- most online
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Her laptop has been _____ all day downloading updates.
Etymology
From on + line, first used around the 1950s for equipment directly connected to and controlled by a computer.
Class of 1950
online joined the language around 1950.
See the full Class of 1950 →
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for online
See all rhymes for online →Frequently asked questions
What does “online” mean?
The word “online” means connected to the internet or another network, and actively available or in use. In plain terms, connected to a network (usually the internet) and currently active, or being switched into active use.
How do you pronounce “online”?
“Online” is pronounced ON-lyn (/ˈɒnlaɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “online” in a sentence?
Here is “online” used in a sentence: “Her laptop has been online all day downloading updates.”
What is the opposite of “online”?
The opposite of “online” — its antonyms — are offline, hardcopy, brick and mortar and living under a rock.
What part of speech is “online”?
Depending on how it is used, “online” can be an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “online” come from?
The word “online” dates back to around 1950. From on + line, first used around the 1950s for equipment directly connected to and controlled by a computer.
Is “online” a common word?
“Online” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “online” have?
“Online” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: connected to the internet or another network, and actively available or in use.
What is the difference between online and offline?
Online means connected to the internet and available for use, while offline means disconnected from it. An online store lets you shop over the internet; an offline task needs no connection at all. Someone shown as "online" is currently active on a network, whereas "offline" means they are not.
Is "online" one word or two?
Modern usage writes it as one word: "online." The older hyphenated form "on-line" was common in early computing but now looks dated. Whether used as an adjective ("online banking") or an adverb ("shop online"), the single-word spelling is standard in current English.
What is an example of "online"?
Online shopping, online banking, and an online meeting all take place over the internet. Saying "she is online now" means she is connected and active. A game described as online needs a live internet connection to play. Each use points to being on a network and available.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include online:
