online

on-line · adjective

imported

Definitions

adjective

  1. 1.

    (adjective) Connected to or available through the internet or a computer network.

  2. 2.

    (adverb) While connected to the internet or a computer network.

  3. 3.

    (adjective) Active and operational (of a system or service).

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    go online — to connect to the internet
  • •
    online presence — visibility and activity on the internet
  • •
    online banking — managing bank accounts via the internet

Related words

Antonyms: offline
See also: digital, internet, offline, virtual
Synonyms: connected, digital, web-based

Etymology

From English on + line, originally a telecommunications term meaning connected to a central system. The term gained widespread use with the rise of the internet in the 1990s.