on-line

UK:*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˌɒnˈlaɪn/US:USA pronunciation: respellingUSA pronunciation: respelling(onlīn, ôn-)


WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
ˈon-ˈline or ˈonˈline, adj. 
  1. Computingoperating under the direct control of, or connected to, a main computer:If you are not getting any messages back, make sure you are still on-line (= Make sure your computer is still on-line). Compare off-line.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
on-line  (onlīn, ôn-),USA pronunciation adj. 
  1. Computingoperating under the direct control of, or connected to, a main computer (opposed to off-line).
  2. Computingconnected by computer to one or more other computers or networks, as through a commercial electronic information service or the Internet.
  3. Computingusing a computer.
  4. Radio and Television, Show Business(of a network) supplying affiliated stations with all or a substantial part of their programming.
  5. Radio and Television, Show Business[Television.]of or pertaining to the final editing of a videotaped program.
  6. done or accomplished while in operation or active service:on-line maintenance.
  7. Transportlocated on major routes or rail lines:on-line industries.

adv. 
  1. Computingwith or through a computer, esp. over a network.
Also, online, on line. Cf. off-line. 
  • 1945–50

on-line, +adj. 
  1. Computingconnected by computer to one or more other computers or networks, as through a commercial electronic information service or the Internet.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
online, on-line / ˈɒnˌlaɪn/
  1. of or relating to the internet: online shopping
  2. of, relating to, or concerned with a peripheral device that is directly connected to and controlled by the central processing unit of a computer
  3. occurring as part of, or involving, a continuous sequence of operations, such as a production line
  1. while connected to a computer or the internet
  2. come online (of a power station or other source of energy) to begin to contribute to a distribution network
  3. to become functional or available

See offline
'on-line' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

Forum discussions with the word(s) "on-line" in the title:


Look up "on-line" at Merriam-Webster
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