English
come on
Pronunciation
  • (British) IPA: /ˈkʌm ˌɔːn/, /-on/, unstressed: /kəm-/
  • (interjection)
  • (America) IPA: /ˈkʌm ˌɔn/, /-ɒːn/, /-ɑːn/, unstressed: /kəm-/
Noun

come on (plural come ons)

  1. Alternative spelling of come-on
Verb

come on

  1. Used other than with a figurative or idiomatic meaning: see come, on
    My birthday will come on a Friday this year.
  2. (transitive) To encounter, discover; to come upon.
    Turning the corner, I came on Julia sitting by the riverbank.
  3. (intransitive) To appear on a stage or in a performance.
    I think he's coming on too late after my line.
  4. (intransitive) To appear on a television broadcast.
    I was going to turn off the TV, but my favorite show came on.
  5. (intransitive) To progress, to develop.
    The new garden is coming on nicely.
  6. (intransitive, of a light) To start to shine, become lit.
    The light came on as soon as I flicked the switch.
  7. (intransitive, idiomatic, with to) To show sexual or relational interest through words or sometimes actions.
    She started coming on to me as soon as my wife left the room.
    • 1913, D.H. Lawrence, Sons and Lovers, chapter 10
      The family was coming on. Only Morel remained unchanged, or rather, lapsed slowly.
  8. (intransitive, idiomatic, colloquial, UK) To get one's period, start menstruating.
    • 2009, Jenny Diski, "Short cuts", London Review of Books, XXXI.20:
      Overall, menstrual modernity in the form of a more efficient throwaway technology was seized on and celebrated, as was the opportunity to send your man off to the shop to get it if you came on suddenly.
  9. (sports, of a substitute) To enter the playing field.
  10. (intransitive, informal, with adverbial words such as in, by, round, over, up, down) Elaboration of come (in the sense of move towards the speaker or other focus), emphasising motion or progress, or conveying a nuance of familiarity or encouragement.
    Don't just stand there on the doorstep, come on in!
    Don't leave without coming on round to see the baby.
    You said to come on over whenever I get the chance, and here I am!
    Come on up to my place on the third floor.
    Please come on home.
Translations Translations Translations Interjection
  1. Come along with me; join me in going.
    I'll show you where the auditorium is. Come on!
  2. An expression of encouragement.
    Come on, George! You can win!
  3. An expression of disbelief.
    Come on! You can't possibly expect me to believe that.
  4. An expression of frustration, exasperation, or impatience; hurry up.
    Aw, ''come on! Get on with it!
    Come on, we don't want to miss the train!
  5. An expression of defiance or as a challenge; approach; come at me.
    Come on! I'm not afraid of you.
    • 1847, John Maddison Morton, Box and Cox (farce)
      BOX: […] Hark ye, sir—can you fight?
      COX: No, sir.
      BOX: No? Then come on—
Synonyms Translations Translations
  • French: mais enfin, mais voyons, c'est pas vrai, quoi
  • Italian: suvvia, ma dai, e dai, ma no
  • Portuguese: pelo amor de Deus
  • Russian: ну-ну́!
  • Spanish: por favor, ¡venga ya!, qué va
Translations Translations

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