# online

/ˈɔnˌɫaɪn/ (US) · /ˈɒnlaɪn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/online
Updated: 2026-07-22

## Senses

### 1. connected to the internet

adjective · CEFR A1

connected to the internet or a computer network.

For teachers: connected to a central computer system or the internet.

- Is your computer online yet, or are you still having trouble with the Wi-Fi?
- The technician confirmed that the server was finally online after the scheduled maintenance window had concluded.

### 2. available on the web

adjective · CEFR A1

found or done on the internet rather than in the physical world.

For teachers: available, performed, or existing on the internet.

- I prefer online shopping because I can compare prices more easily.
- The university offers several online courses for students who cannot attend lectures on campus due to professional commitments.

### 3. active or running

adjective · CEFR B2 · Technical

ready to use or currently working, like a factory or a power system.

For teachers: in an active or operational state, particularly regarding industrial facilities or power grids.

- The new power plant will be online by the end of the year.
- Engineers worked around the clock to bring the backup generators online before the storm reached the coast.

### 4. immersed in internet culture

adjective · CEFR C1 · Slang · Informal

spending a lot of time on the internet and knowing all the latest jokes and trends.

For teachers: heavily immersed in internet subcultures, memes, and social media trends.

- You have to be very online to understand that joke.
- The marketing campaign failed because it relied on obscure references that only extremely online people would recognise.

### 5. using the internet

adverb · CEFR A2

while connected to the internet.

For teachers: in a state of being connected to the internet or a network.

- You can buy your tickets online to avoid the long queues at the station.
- Many employees now prefer to work online from home rather than commuting to a central office every day.

### 6. to make active

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to start a system or make it available for use.

For teachers: to bring a system, network, or facility into an operational or active state.

- We need to online the new database before the morning shift starts.
- The IT department plans to online the upgraded security protocols over the weekend to minimise user disruption.

## Examples

- I prefer to do my banking online.
- Most students now submit their assignments through the university's online portal instead of printing them out.
- The shift toward online retail has forced traditional brick-and-mortar stores to reconsider their physical presence and focus more on experiential shopping to remain competitive.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.