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

Not long after, Holt turned down a come-on from the producer Howard Hughes. —Justin Curto, Vulture, 19 Nov. 2024

The marketing come-on for Sardinia is simple: The Italian island calls itself the Caribbean of the Mediterranean. —Ann Abel, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024

Verb

Going to space after the Columbia disaster Eileen Collins’ fourth and final mission came on the heels of the tragic Columbia disaster. —Dr. Ruth Gotian, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024

The pickup comes on the heels of a successful launch both in the U.K. and the United States. —Rick Porter, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Nov. 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