Phrasal verbs with on
On is about continuing, starting or wearing: go on, carry on, turn on the TV, put on a coat.
Phrasal verbs with on by level
- A1–A25get on, put on, turn on
- B118get on, put on, get on with
- B222put on, get on with, take on
- C1–C216take on, come on, turn on
Each meaning has its own level, from Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries and the Cambridge Dictionary, or our estimate (~) where they give none.
A1–A2The first ones to learn 5 meanings
- get onget on somethingA2
go onto a bus, train, plane, boat or bike
Hurry up and get on! The doors are closing.
- put onput something onA2
dress yourself in clothes, shoes or glasses
Put on a coat. It’s freezing outside!
- put onput something onA2
make a machine start working, or start music or a film
Shall I put some music on?
- turn onturn something onA2
make a light, machine or tap start working
Can you turn on the light?
- carry oncarry onA2
continue doing something
Sorry I stopped you. Carry on with your story.
B1Common, with a clear meaning 18 meanings
- get onget onB1
have a friendly relationship with someone
My brother and I get on really well now.
- get onget onB1
manage or make progress in a situation
How did you get on at the dentist?
- put onput something onB1
become heavier
I’ve put on three kilos since Christmas.
- get on withget on with somebody or somethingB1
have a friendly relationship with someone
I get on with everyone in my class.
- get on withget on with somethingB1
make progress with a task
How are you getting on with the essay?
- go ongo onB1
continue, or last for a period of time
The party went on until three in the morning.
- go ongo onB1
happen
What’s going on here?
- go ongo onB1
start working, for a light or a machine
The heating goes on at six every morning.
- come oncome onB1
tell someone to hurry or to try harder
Come on, we’re going to miss the bus!
- carry oncarry onB1
continue moving in the same direction
Carry on down this road until you see the bank.
- work onwork on somethingB1
spend time making or improving something
I’m working on a new song at the moment.
- hold onhold onB1
wait for a short time, often on the phone
Hold on, I’ll see if she’s in.
- keep onkeep onB1
continue doing something, or do it again and again
Keep on walking until you see the church.
- hang onhang onB1
wait for a short time
Hang on a minute. I’ll get my keys.
- move onmove onB1
stop talking about one thing and start another
OK, let’s move on to the next question.
- pass onpass something onB1
give a message or information that someone gave you to another person
Could you pass on a message to Sara?
- pass onpass something onB1
give something to someone else, like old clothes, skills or an illness
I passed my old bike on to my nephew.
- switch onswitch something onB1
make a light or machine start working by pressing a button
Can you switch on the light? It’s dark in here.
B2Second meanings and more idiomatic ones 22 meanings
- put onput something onB2
organise a show, a play or an event for people
The school puts on a play every spring.
- get on withget on with somethingB2
start or continue doing something, especially work, after a pause
Stop chatting and get on with your work.
- take ontake somebody onB2
give someone a job
The café is taking on extra staff for the summer.
- take ontake somebody or something onB2
play or fight against someone in a game or contest
On Saturday we take on the best team in the league.
- go ongo onB2
continue speaking after a pause, or tell someone to try something
Sorry I stopped you. Please go on.
- come oncome onB2
say you don’t believe or agree with what someone said
Oh, come on! That’s not true.
- come oncome onB2
start slowly, for an illness or a pain
I can feel a cold coming on.
- come oncome onB2
improve or make progress
Your English is really coming on!
- hold onhold onB2
hold something tightly so you do not fall or drop it
Hold on to the rail. The boat is moving.
- pick onpick on somebodyB2
keep being unkind to one person or blaming them unfairly
The older boys picked on him because he was small.
- hang onhang onB2
hold something tightly so you do not fall or lose it
Hang on tight. The road gets bumpy here.
- hang onhang onB2
keep going in a difficult situation
The team hung on to win 2 to 1.
- call oncall on somebody or somethingB2
publicly ask a person or group to do something
Parents are calling on the council to build a new crossing.
- call oncall on somebodyB2
ask someone in a class or meeting to speak
The teacher always calls on me when I don’t know the answer.
- call oncall on somebodyB2
visit someone for a short time
We called on my aunt on our way home.
- move onmove onB2
accept a sad change and stop thinking about the past
It’s been a year. It’s time to move on.
- pass onpass onB2
die (a polite way to say it)
Her father passed on last spring.
- rely onrely on somebody or somethingB2
need someone or something to help you or to keep going
Many farmers rely on the rain for their crops.
- rely onrely on somebody or somethingB2
trust someone or something to do what you expect
You can always rely on Maria. She never forgets.
- live onlive on somethingB2
have a certain amount of money to pay for the things you need
Lots of students live on less than 800 euros a month.
- live onlive on somethingB2
eat only or mostly one kind of food
During exams I live on toast and coffee.
- try ontry something onB2
put on clothes or shoes to see if they fit or look good
Can I try on these jeans, please?
C1–C2Less common and more formal 16 meanings
- take ontake something onC1
agree to do some work or be responsible for something
Don’t take on too much at once.
- come oncome onC1
start working, for a light or a machine
The heating comes on at six.
- turn onturn on somebody or somethingC1
attack or criticise someone suddenly
The dog suddenly turned on its owner.
- turn onturn something onC1
start to show a feeling or a quality on purpose
He turned on the charm to get the job.
- carry oncarry onC1
behave in a noisy, silly or too emotional way
The kids were carrying on in the back of the car.
- work onwork on somebodyC2
try to persuade someone to agree or do something
Dad says no to the dog, but I’m working on him.
- hold onhold onC1
manage to continue in a difficult or dangerous situation
The climbers held on until the rescue team arrived.
- keep onkeep onC1
talk to someone again and again about something, in an annoying way
My mum keeps on at me to get a haircut.
- keep onkeep somebody onC1
continue to employ someone
The shop kept two staff on after the summer.
- catch oncatch onC1
become popular or fashionable
Electric scooters caught on really fast in our city.
- catch oncatch onC2
start to understand something, often after some time
The game is hard at first, but kids catch on quickly.
- count oncount on somebodyC1
trust that someone will help you or do what they promised
You can always count on me. Just call.
- count oncount on somethingC1
expect something to happen and make plans because of it
We were counting on good weather for the wedding.
- move onmove onC1
leave a place or a job and go to a new one
After two nights in Rome, we moved on to Florence.
- pass onpass on somethingC1
say no to an offer (informal)
Thanks, but I’ll pass on dessert tonight.
- live onlive onC1
continue to exist or be remembered
Her music will live on for a long time.
Café orders
New friends
At the airport
Slova
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Phrasal verbs with on that people mix up
Close in meaning, but not the same.
put on: dress yourself in clothes, shoes or glasses.
turn on: make a machine or light start working.
put on: dress yourself in clothes, shoes or glasses.
switch on: start a machine with a switch.
get on with or carry on?
get on with: start or continue doing something, especially work, after a pause.
carry on: continue doing something, often without stopping.
go on: continue, or last for a period of time.
carry on: continue doing something, often after a stop.
go on: continue, or last for a period of time.
keep on: continue doing something again and again.
come on: tell someone to hurry or to try harder.
go on: also used to encourage someone.
Phrasal verbs with on: exercise with answers
Eight questions. Pick an answer to see if it is right and why.
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1My mum _____ at me to get a haircut.
Keep on: talk to someone again and again about something, in an annoying way. More on keep on
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2Don’t _____ getting a seat on the early train.
Count on: expect something to happen and make plans because of it. More on count on
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3The kid hung _____ to his mum’s coat in the crowd. (hold something tightly so you do not fall or lose it)
Hang on: hold something tightly so you do not fall or lose it. More on hang on
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4Which is correct? (agree to do some work or be responsible for something)
Take on is separable here, and a pronoun must go in the middle. More on take on
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5He _____ the charm to get the job.
Turn on: start to show a feeling or a quality on purpose. More on turn on
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6You can always rely on Maria. She never forgets. What does it mean here?
Rely on: trust someone or something to do what you expect. More on rely on
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7She doesn’t get _____ her neighbours at all. (have a friendly relationship with someone)
Get on with: have a friendly relationship with someone. More on get on with
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8Can I _____ these jeans, please?
Try on: put on clothes or shoes to see if they fit or look good. More on try on
Phrasal verbs with on: FAQ
How many phrasal verbs with on are there?
Dictionaries list many more, but these 22 are the ones learners meet most, with 61 meanings between them. Each has its own page with examples, common mistakes and a short quiz.
What are the most common phrasal verbs with on?
Start with the A1 and A2 ones: get on, put on, turn on, carry on. Then the B1 ones, which are common in everyday conversation.
Which phrasal verbs with on are separable?
7 of them have at least one separable meaning, where the object can go in the middle: put on, take on, turn on, keep on, pass on, switch on. With a pronoun like it or them, the object must go in the middle.