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
Marty’s on the phone with Doc at his place and suddenly, seemingly hundreds of wall clocks start ringing.
—
Spin Editors, SPIN, 21 Jan. 2025
But the two leaders spoke on the phone on Friday and discussed trade, fentanyl and TikTok.
—Adriana Gomez Licon, Chicago Tribune, 19 Jan. 2025
This is only likely to increase with this fall’s iPhones, as more is done on the phone and as the capabilities of Apple Intelligence improve.
—David Phelan, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025
The cousins went back and forth on the phone until Brandi broke in.
—Michael Gordon, Charlotte Observer, 17 Jan. 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.
Spin Editors, SPIN, 21 Jan. 2025
But the two leaders spoke on the phone on Friday and discussed trade, fentanyl and TikTok.
—Adriana Gomez Licon, Chicago Tribune, 19 Jan. 2025
This is only likely to increase with this fall’s iPhones, as more is done on the phone and as the capabilities of Apple Intelligence improve.
—David Phelan, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025
The cousins went back and forth on the phone until Brandi broke in.
—Michael Gordon, Charlotte Observer, 17 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for on the phone
Dictionary Entries Near 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 31 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share