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Glite Dictionary
to be on

to be on

∞ 1.0
To appear on television or radio
  • phrasal verb
  • /bi ɑn/
translation icon : emitirse
  • The football match will be on live tomorrow afternoon.

So in the end, they just, I was on screen so many times.

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Examples

  • Oh, Ed, she's just so excited to be on TV.

    Ordinary Angels (2024)

  • I was going to be on CNN.

    Danny Jones

  • And I think those will still be on the CBS All Access service.

  • I am so excited to be on this podcast with the crew.

  • Jeff Daniels is on the show tonight.

  • It was really, really fun to get to be on your podcast.

  • Bozo Circus is on the air!

    Parts: The Clonus Horror (1979)

  • Yeah, yeah, I've also been on Joe Rogan's podcast.

  • Tonight, the new documentary will be on BBC One at 9 PM.

  • I can't wait to see her be on the evening news talking about her project.

Synonyms

to air
vsto be on
  • Literature
203 3.0

To broadcast a program on radio or TV

is used for something being broadcast or shown rather than the action of broadcasting
to televise
vsto be on
140 3.8

To show a programme on television

is broader covering broadcasts or showings on any medium
to get on
vsto be on
56 4.4

Appear on TV or radio

refers to the program being broadcast or shown rather than a person appearing
on air
vsto be on
43 3.6

Broadcasting live on radio or television for the public

refers to being broadcast or shown whether live or recorded
to broadcast live on air
vsto be on
  • Literature
3.0

Send a program as it happens on radio or TV

covers any broadcasting or showing live or recorded

Antonyms

off
316 1.0

Away from a place or position

Surface Forms

be on infinitive
was on past
been on past participle
being on present participle
is on third person singular

Morphology

be + on

The meaning 'to be broadcast' is directly derived from combining 'be' (to exist or be in a state/place) with 'on' used locatively for media (as in 'on TV' or 'on the radio'), so the MWE simply denotes presence on a broadcast medium. This locative/medium use of 'on' is common and cross-linguistically familiar, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents will very likely infer the intended meaning.

Etymology

Be on comes from old theatre and radio practice: when the lights were on or the 'on air' sign was lit, the show or broadcast was happening, so if something is on it means it is being shown or broadcast now.