come-on

1 of 2

noun

ˈkəm-ˌȯn 

-ˌän

1

: something (such as an advertising promotion) intended to entice or allure

2

: a usually sexual advance

come on

2 of 2

verb

came on; come on; coming on; comes on

intransitive verb

1

a

: to advance by degrees

darkness came on

b

: to begin by degrees

rain came on toward noon

2

a

: please

—used in cajoling or pleading

b

—used interjectionally to express astonishment, incredulity, or recognition of a put-on

3

: to project an indicated personal image

comes on as a conservative

4

: to show sexual interest in someone

also : to make sexual advances

—usually used with to

tried to come on to her

Synonyms

Noun

• allurement
• bait
• enticement
• lure
• siren song
• temptation
• turn-on

Examples of come-on in a Sentence

Noun

the spectacular sale was enough of a come-on to get many shoppers to try the store for the first time

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

For many, the card looked like a come-on or a scam. —George Skelton, The Mercury News, 11 June 2024

Books Is Madonna a game-changing feminist or capitalist come-on? —Chris Vognar, Los Angeles Times, 1 Dec. 2023

Verb

Fairchild, 74, came on the show for three episodes of season 5 in 1992 to play Bartlett's girlfriend Marla, though the relationship didn't last. —Nick Romano, EW.com, 21 June 2024

Dear Miss Manners: Our neighbor of 25+ years has been given a very short time to live; the cancer came on suddenly and unexpectedly. —Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 20 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1902, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Legal Definition

come on

intransitive verb

: to be brought forward (as a case in court)

the first prize case of the war…came on for trial

—W. G. Young