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
Hughes’ brother was on the phone with him during part of the argument over the parking spot.
—
Graham Rayman, New York Daily News, 16 Feb. 2025
For days, the Kremlin did not confirm or deny whether Putin and spoken to Trump on the phone as the U.S. president had said on Sunday.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 15 Feb. 2025
The two began chatting and, eventually, hopped on the phone a couple times.
—Julia Ries, SELF, 12 Feb. 2025
In the video, Xu speaks to Neeson on the phone, urging him to hurry up and take a look at the property in Australia.
—Becca Longmire, People.com, 12 Feb. 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.
Graham Rayman, New York Daily News, 16 Feb. 2025
For days, the Kremlin did not confirm or deny whether Putin and spoken to Trump on the phone as the U.S. president had said on Sunday.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 15 Feb. 2025
The two began chatting and, eventually, hopped on the phone a couple times.
—Julia Ries, SELF, 12 Feb. 2025
In the video, Xu speaks to Neeson on the phone, urging him to hurry up and take a look at the property in Australia.
—Becca Longmire, People.com, 12 Feb. 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 22 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share