come on

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈkʌm ˌɔːn/, /-on/, unstressed: /ˈkəm-/
• (interjection)

  Audio (UK)

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• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈkʌm ˌɔn/, /-ɒːn/, /-ɑːn/, unstressed: /ˈkəm-/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

come on (plural come ons)

1. Alternative form of come-on

come on (third-person singular simple present comes on, present participle coming on, simple past came on, past participle come on)

1. Used other than with a figurative or idiomatic meaning: see come,‎ on.

   My birthday will come on a Friday this year.

2. (intransitive, idiomatic, with to) To show sexual or relational interest through words or sometimes actions.

   She started coming on to me as soon as my wife left the room.

3. (intransitive) To appear on a stage or in a performance.

   I think he's coming on too late after my line.

4. (intransitive) To appear on a television broadcast.

   I was going to turn off the TV, but my favorite show came on.

5. (intransitive) To progress, to develop.

   The new garden is coming on nicely.

   • 1913, D.H. Lawrence, Sons and Lovers, chapter 10

     The family was coming on. Only Morel remained unchanged, or rather, lapsed slowly.

6. (intransitive, idiomatic, colloquial, Britain) To get one's period, start menstruating.
   • 2009, Jenny Diski, "Short cuts", London Review of Books, XXXI.20:

     Overall, menstrual modernity in the form of a more efficient throwaway technology was seized on and celebrated, as was the opportunity to send your man off to the shop to get it if you came on suddenly.

7. (transitive) To encounter, discover; to come upon.

   Turning the corner, I came on Julia sitting by the riverbank.

8. (sports, of a substitute) To enter the playing field.
   • 2011 February 12, Nabil Hassan, “Blackburn 0-0 Newcastle”, in BBC‎:

     Blackburn made their third and final substitution with 25 minutes remaining, with Brett Emerton coming on for Dunn as they looked for ways to stem the Newcastle tide.

9. (intransitive, informal, Southern, US, always used with a preposition: in, by, round, over, up, down) To visit.

   Don't just stand there on the doorstep, come on in!

   Next time you're in the area, come on by.

   Don't leave without coming on round to see the baby.

   You said to come on over whenever I get the chance, and here I am!

   Come on up to my place on the third floor.

   Come on down to see me if you're in my neck of the woods.

• come on to

• hit on

come on

1. An expression of encouragement.

   Come on, George! You can win!

2. An expression of disbelief.

   Come on! You can't possibly expect me to believe that.

3. hurry up

   Come on, we don't want to miss the train.

4. An expression of frustration, exasperation, or impatience.

   Aw, come on! Get on with it!

5. come along with me

   I'll show you where the auditorium is. Come on!

• (encouragement): carn, c'mon
• (disbelief): come off it, c'mon, get out of here; see also Thesaurus:bullshit

• oncome