on the phone
idiom
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
He is told by the officer on the phone to obey police at the scene, but continues to resist.
—
Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2025
Then a production assistant — a famously low-paying, entry-level job on film and TV sets — McGuirk happened to be near the camera operator, who was talking on the phone, when a colleague radioed to ask him to attend a rehearsal.
—Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2025
As he's heard talking on the phone, the camera goes to the top of the OlympiaDumbo.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
Elliott says on the phone to Thornton.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for on the phone
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.
Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2025
Then a production assistant — a famously low-paying, entry-level job on film and TV sets — McGuirk happened to be near the camera operator, who was talking on the phone, when a colleague radioed to ask him to attend a rehearsal.
—Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2025
As he's heard talking on the phone, the camera goes to the top of the OlympiaDumbo.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
Elliott says on the phone to Thornton.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for on the phone
Cite this Entry
“On the phone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20the%20phone. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share