on the phone

phrase

1
: using a telephone to talk to someone
Can you see who's at the door? I'm on the phone.
I was on the phone with my sister until late last night.
2
British : connected to a telephone system
How many households aren't on the phone?

Examples of on the phone in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
There are good things on the phone; there are bad things on the phone. Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026 This can also be talking to someone about the show on the phone or in person. Connie Etermadi, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026 When Hannah arrived, Tresa was already on the phone with the Honolulu Medical Examiner. David Chiu, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026 In one case covered on the podcast, a woman drove to her bank with a scammer still on the phone and nearly withdrew $15,000. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 23 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for on the phone

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“On the phone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20the%20phone. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster