On vs. About

Difference Between On and About

Onadjective

In the state of being active, functioning or operating.

Aboutpreposition

In a circle around; all round; on every side of; on the outside of.

Onadjective

Performing according to schedule.

Are we still on for tonight?Is the show still on?

Aboutpreposition

Near; not far from; approximately; regarding time, size, quantity.

Onadjective

Acceptable, appropriate.

You can't do that; it's just not on.

Aboutpreposition

On the point or verge of.

the show is about to start;I am not about to admit to your crime

Onadjective

(informal) Destined, normally in the context of a challenge being accepted; involved, doomed.

"Five bucks says the Cavs win tonight." ―"You're on!"Mike just threw coffee onto Paul's lap. It's on now.

Aboutpreposition

On one's person; nearby the person.

Onadjective

Having reached a base as a runner and being positioned there, awaiting further action from a subsequent batter.

Aboutpreposition

Over or upon different parts of; through or over in various directions; here and there in; to and fro in; throughout.

Onadjective

(euphemistic) Menstruating.

Aboutpreposition

Concerned with; engaged in; intent on.

Onadverb

To an operating state.

turn the television on

Aboutpreposition

Concerning; with regard to; on account of; on the subject of; to affect.

He knew more about what was occurring than anyone.

Onadverb

Along, forwards (continuing an action).

drive on, rock on

Aboutpreposition

(figurative) In or near, as in mental faculties or (literally) in possession of; in control of; at one's command; in one's makeup.

He has his wits about him.

Onadverb

In continuation, at length.

and so on.He rambled on and on.

Aboutpreposition

In the immediate neighborhood of; in contiguity or proximity to; near, as to place.

Onadverb

(cricket) In, or towards the half of the field on the same side as the batsman's legs; the left side for a right-handed batsman; leg. en

Aboutadverb

Not distant; approximate.

Onadverb

(obsolete in the US) Later.

Ten years on, nothing had changed in the village.

Aboutadverb

On all sides; around.

Onadverb

Of betting odds, denoting a better than even chance. See also odds-on.

That horse is at twenty-to-one on, so you need to stake twenty pounds just to win one pound.''

Aboutadverb

Here and there; around; in one place and another; up and down.

Onpreposition

Positioned at the upper surface of, touching from above.

on the table;on the couchThe parrot was sitting on Jim's shoulder.

Aboutadverb

Nearly; approximately; with close correspondence, in quality, manner, degree, quantity, or time; almost.

about as cold;about as high

Onpreposition

At or near; adjacent to.

Soon we'll pass a statue on the left.The fleet is on the American coast.Croton-on-Hudson, Rostov-on-Don, Southend-on-Sea

Aboutadverb

Near; in the vicinity.

Onpreposition

Covering.

He wore old shoes on his feet.

Aboutadverb

In succession; one after another; in the course of events.

Onpreposition

At the date of.

Born on the 4th of July.

Aboutadverb

On the move; active; astir.

Onpreposition

Some time during the day of.

I'll see you on Monday.The bus leaves on Friday.Can I see you on a different day? On Sunday I'm busy.

Aboutadverb

To a reversed order; half round; facing in the opposite direction; from a contrary point of view.

to face about;to turn oneself about

Onpreposition

Dealing with the subject of, about, or concerning something.

A book on history.The World Summit on the Information Society.

Aboutadverb

(nautical) To the opposite tack.

Onpreposition

Touching; hanging from.

The fruit ripened on the trees.The painting hangs on the wall.

Aboutadverb

(obsolete) Preparing; planning.

Onpreposition

(informal) In the possession of.

I haven't got any money on me.

Aboutadverb

(archaic) In circuit; circularly; by a circuitous way; around the outside; in circumference.

a mile about, and a third of a mile across

Onpreposition

Because of, or due to.

To arrest someone on suspicion of bribery.To contact someone on a hunch.

Aboutadverb

Going to; on the verge of; intending to.

Onpreposition

Upon; at the time of (and often because of).

On Jack's entry, William got up to leave.On the addition of ammonia, a chemical reaction begins.

Aboutadjective

Moving around; astir.

out and about;up and aboutAfter my bout with Guillan-Barre Syndrome, it took me 6 months to be up and about again.

Onpreposition

Paid for by.

The drinks are on me tonight, boys.The meal is on the house.I paid for the airfare and meals for my family, but the hotel room was on the company.

Aboutadjective

In existence; being in evidence; apparent

Onpreposition

Used to indicate a means or medium.

I saw it on television.Can't you see I'm on the phone?

Aboutadjective

on the move;

up and aboutthe whole town was astir over the incident

Onpreposition

Indicating a means of subsistence.

They lived on ten dollars a week.The dog survived three weeks on rainwater.

Aboutadverb

(of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct;

lasted approximately an hourin just about a minutehe's about 30 years oldI've had about all I can standwe meet about once a monthsome forty people cameweighs around a hundred poundsroughly $3,000holds 3 gallons, more or less20 or so people were at the party

Onpreposition

Away or occupied with (e.g. a scheduled activity).

He's on his lunch break.on vacation;on holiday

Aboutadverb

all around or on all sides;

dirty clothes lying around (or about)let's look about for helpThere were trees growing all aroundshe looked around her

Onpreposition

Denoting performance or action by contact with the surface, upper part, or outside of anything; hence, by means of; with.

to play on a violin or pianoHer words made a lasting impression on my mind.

Aboutadverb

in the area or vicinity;

a few spectators standing abouthanging aroundwaited around for the next flight

Onpreposition

Regularly taking (a drug).

You've been on these antidepressants far too long.He's acting so strangely, I think he must be on something.

Aboutadverb

to or among many different places or in no particular direction;

wandering about with no place to gopeople were rushing aboutnews gets around (or about)traveled around in Asiahe needs advice from someone who's been aroundshe sleeps around

Onpreposition

Under the influence of (a drug).

He's acting crazy because he's on crack right now.

Aboutadverb

in or to a reversed position or direction;

about facebrought the ship aboutsuddenly she turned around

Onpreposition

(mathematics) Having identical domain and codomain.

a function on

Aboutadverb

in rotation or succession;

turn about is fair play

Onpreposition

(mathematics) Having $V^n$ as domain and V as codomain, for some set V and integer n.

an operator on

Aboutadverb

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; `near' is sometimes used informally for `nearly' and `most' is sometimes used informally for `almost';

the job is (just) about donethe baby was almost asleep when the alarm soundedwe're almost finishedthe car all but ran her downhe nearly faintedtalked for nigh onto 2 hoursthe recording is well-nigh perfectvirtually all the parties signed the contractI was near exhausted by the runmost everyone agrees

Onpreposition

(mathematics) Generated by.

the free group on four letters

Onpreposition

Supported by (the specified part of itself).

A table can't stand on two legs.After resting on his elbows, he stood on his toes, then walked on his heels.

Onpreposition

At a given time after the start of something; at.

Onpreposition

In addition to; besides; indicating multiplication or succession in a series.

heaps on heaps of foodmischief on mischief; loss on loss

Onpreposition

Indicating dependence or reliance; with confidence in.

I depended on them for assistance.He will promise on certain conditions.Do you ever bet on horses?

Onpreposition

Toward; for; indicating the object of an emotion.

Have pity or compassion on him.

Onpreposition

(obsolete) At the peril of, or for the safety of.

Onpreposition

In the service of; connected with; of the number of.

He is on a newspaper; I am on the committee.

Onpreposition

By virtue of; with the pledge of.

He affirmed or promised on his word, or on his honour.

Onpreposition

To the account or detriment of; denoting imprecation or invocation, or coming to, falling, or resting upon.

On us be all the blame.A curse on him!Please don't tell on her and get her in trouble.He turned on her and has been her enemy ever since.He went all honest on me, making me listen to his confession.

Onpreposition

(especially when numbers of combatants or competitors are specified) Against; in opposition to.

Onpreposition

Without.

Onverb

to switch on

Can you on the light?

Onnoun

In the Japanese language, a pronunciation, or reading, of a kanji character that was originally based on the character's pronunciation in Chinese, contrasted with kun.

Most kanji have two kinds of reading, called "on" and "kun".