Come on

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈkÊŒm ˌɔ:n/ , /-on/ unstressed /ˈkÉ™m-/
• interjection
• US IPA: /ˈkÊŒm ˌɔn/ , /-É’:n/ , /-É‘:n/ unstressed /ˈkÉ™m-/

Full definition of come on

Noun

1. Alternative form of come-on

Verb

1. My birthday will come on a Friday this year.
2. (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.
3. (intransitive) To appear on a television broadcast.
   I was going to turn off the TV, but my favorite show came on.
4. (intransitive) To progress, to develop.
   The new garden is coming on nicely.
• 1913, D.H. Lawrence, ,The family was coming on. Only Morel remained unchanged, or rather, lapsed slowly.
5. (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.
6. (transitive) To encounter, discover; to come upon.
   Turning the corner, I came on Julia sitting by the riverbank.
7. (sports, of a substitute) To enter the playing field.
• 2011, February 12, Nabil Hassan, Blackburn 0-0 NewcastleBlackburn made their third and final substitution with 25 minutes remaining, with Brett Emerton coming on for Dunn as they looked for ways to stem the Newcastle tide.

Derived terms

• come on to

Interjection

1. An expression of encouragement.Come on, George! You can win!
2. An expression of disbelief.Come on! You can't possibly expect me to believe that.
3. hurry up
4. An expression of exasperation, of impatience.Aw, Come on! Get on with it!

Synonyms

• (encouragement) carn, c'mon
• (disbelief) come off it, c'mon

Anagrams

• oncome