The difference between Off and On
When used as nouns, off means beginning, whereas on means in the japanese language, a pronunciation, or reading, of a kanji character that was originally based on the character's pronunciation in chinese, contrasted with kun.
When used as adverbs, off means in a direction away from the speaker or object, whereas on means to an operating state.
When used as verbs, off means to kill, whereas on means to switch on.
When used as adjectives, off means inoperative, disabled, whereas on means in the state of being active, functioning or operating.
On is also preposition with the meaning: positioned at the upper surface of, touching from above.
check bellow for the other definitions of Off and On
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Off as an adverb:
In a direction away from the speaker or object.
Examples:
"He drove off in a cloud of smoke."
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Off as an adverb:
Into a state of non-operation; into a state of non-existence.
Examples:
"Please switch off the light when you leave."
"die off'"
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Off as an adverb:
So as to be removed or separated.
Examples:
"He bit off more than he could chew."
"Some branches were sawn off."
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Off as an adjective:
Inoperative, disabled.
Examples:
"ant on"
"All the lights are off."
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Off as an adjective:
Rancid, rotten.
Examples:
"ant fresh"
"This milk is off!"
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Off as an adjective (cricket):
In, or towards the half of the field away from the batsman's legs; the right side for a right-handed batsman.
Examples:
"ant on leg"
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Off as an adjective:
Less than normal, in temperament or in result.
Examples:
"sales are off this quarter"
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Off as an adjective:
Circumstanced (as in well off, better off, poorly off).
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Off as an adjective:
Started on the way.
Examples:
"'off to see the wizard"
"And they're off! Whatsmyname takes an early lead, with Remember The Mane behind by a nose."
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Off as an adjective:
Far; off to the side.
Examples:
"the off horse or ox in a team, in distinction from the nigh or near horse"
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Off as an adjective:
Designating a time when one is not strictly attentive to business or affairs, or is absent from a post, and, hence, a time when affairs are not urgent.
Examples:
"He took an off day for fishing.  an off year in politics; the off season"
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Off as an adjective:
Presently unavailable.
Examples:
"— ''I'll have the chicken please."
"— ''Sorry, chicken's off today."
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Off as an adjective:
Right-hand .
Examples:
"synonyms: near"
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Off as a preposition:
Examples:
"I took it off the table."
"Come off the roof!"
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Off as a preposition (colloquial):
Out of the possession of.
Examples:
"He didn't buy it off him. He stole it off him."
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Off as a preposition:
Away from or not on.
Examples:
"He's off the computer, but he's still on the phone."
"Keep off the grass."
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Off as a preposition:
Disconnected or subtracted from.
Examples:
"We've been off the grid for three days now."
"He took 20% off the list price."
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Off as a preposition:
Distant from.
Examples:
"We're just off the main road."
"The island is 23 miles off the cape."
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Off as a preposition:
No longer wanting or taking.
Examples:
"He's been off his feed since Tuesday."
"He's off his meds again."
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Off as a preposition:
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Examples:
"Tantalum bar 6 off 3/8" Dia × 12"'' — Atom, Great Britain Atomic Energy Authority, 1972"
"samples submitted … 12 off Thermistors type 1K3A531 …'' — BSI test report for shock and vibration testing, 2000"
"I'd like to re-order those printer cartridges, let's say 5-off."
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Off as a verb (transitive, slang):
To kill.
Examples:
"He got in the way so I had him offed."
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Off as a verb (transitive, Singapore, Philippines):
To switch off.
Examples:
"Can you off the light?"
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Off as a noun (rare):
Beginning; starting point.
Examples:
"He has been very obviously an untrustworthy narrator right from the off."
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On as an adjective:
In the state of being active, functioning or operating.
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On as an adjective:
Performing according to schedule.
Examples:
"Are we still on for tonight?"
"Is the show still on?"
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On as an adjective (chiefly, UK, informal, usually negative):
Acceptable, appropriate.
Examples:
"You can't do that; it's just not on."
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On as an adjective (informal):
Destined, normally in the context of a challenge being accepted; involved, doomed.
Examples:
"Five bucks says the Cavs win tonight." ―"You're on!"
"Mike just threw coffee onto Paul's lap. It's on now."
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On as an adjective (baseball, informal):
Having reached a base as a runner and being positioned there, awaiting further action from a subsequent batter.
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On as an adjective (euphemistic):
Menstruating.
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On as an adverb:
To an operating state.
Examples:
"turn the [[television]] on'"
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On as an adverb:
Along, forwards (continuing an action).
Examples:
"drive on, rock on'"
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On as an adverb:
In continuation, at length.
Examples:
"and so on."
"He rambled on and on."
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On as an adverb (cricket):
In, or towards the half of the field on the same side as the batsman's legs; the left side for a right-handed batsman; leg.
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On as an adverb (not US):
Later.
Examples:
"Ten years on, nothing had changed in the village."
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On as a preposition:
Positioned at the upper surface of, touching from above.
Examples:
"'on the table; on the couch"
"The parrot was sitting on Jim's shoulder."
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On as a preposition:
At or near; adjacent to.
Examples:
"Soon we'll pass a statue on the left."
"The fleet is on the American coast."
"[[wikipedia:Croton-on-Hudson Croton-on-Hudson]], [[wikipedia:Rostov-on-Don Rostov-on-Don]], [[wikipedia:Southend-on-Sea Southend-on-Sea]]"
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On as a preposition:
Covering.
Examples:
"He wore old shoes on his feet."
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On as a preposition:
At the date of.
Examples:
"Born on the 4th of July."
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On as a preposition:
Some time during the day of.
Examples:
"I'll see you on Monday. The bus leaves on Friday. Can I see you on a different day? On Sunday I'm busy."
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On as a preposition:
Dealing with the subject of, about, or concerning something.
Examples:
"A book on history. The World Summit on the Information Society."
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On as a preposition:
Touching; hanging from.
Examples:
"The fruit ripened on the trees. The painting hangs on the wall."
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On as a preposition (informal):
In the possession of.
Examples:
"I haven't got any money on me."
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On as a preposition:
Because of, or due to.
Examples:
"To arrest someone on suspicion of bribery. To contact someone on a hunch."
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On as a preposition:
Upon; at the time of (and often because of).
Examples:
"'On Jack's entry, William got up to leave."
"'On the addition of ammonia, a chemical reaction begins."
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On as a preposition:
Paid for by.
Examples:
"The drinks are on me tonight, boys. The meal is on the house. I paid for the airfare and meals for my family, but the hotel room was on the company."
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On as a preposition:
Examples:
"I saw it on television. Can't you see I'm on the phone?"
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On as a preposition:
Examples:
"They lived on ten dollars a week. The dog survived three weeks on rainwater."
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On as a preposition:
Away or occupied with (e.g. a scheduled activity).
Examples:
"He's on his lunch break. on vacation; on holiday"
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On as a preposition:
Denoting performance or action by contact with the surface, upper part, or outside of anything; hence, by means of; with.
Examples:
"to play on a violin or piano"
"Her words made a lasting impression on my mind."
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On as a preposition:
Regularly taking (a drug).
Examples:
"You've been on these antidepressants far too long. He's acting so strangely, I think he must be on something."
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On as a preposition:
Under the influence of (a drug).
Examples:
"He's acting crazy because he's on crack right now."
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On as a preposition (mathematics):
Having identical domain and codomain.
Examples:
"a function on'"
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On as a preposition (mathematics):
Having V^n as domain and V as codomain, for some set V and integer n.
Examples:
"an operator on'"
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On as a preposition (mathematics):
Generated by.
Examples:
"the free group on four letters"
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On as a preposition:
Supported by (the specified part of itself).
Examples:
"A table can't stand on two legs. After resting on his elbows, he stood on his toes, then walked on his heels."
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On as a preposition:
At a given time after the start of something; at.
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On as a preposition:
In addition to; besides; indicating multiplication or succession in a series.
Examples:
"heaps on heaps of food"
"mischief on mischief; loss on loss"
"rfquotek Shakespeare"
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On as a preposition (obsolete, regional):
of
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On as a preposition:
Indicating dependence or reliance; with confidence in.
Examples:
"I depended on them for assistance."
"He will promise on certain conditions."
"Do you ever bet on horses?"
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On as a preposition:
Toward; for; indicating the object of an emotion.
Examples:
"Have pity or compassion on him."
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On as a preposition (obsolete):
At the peril of, or for the safety of.
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On as a preposition:
In the service of; connected with; of the number of.
Examples:
"He is on a newspaper; I am on the committee."
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On as a preposition:
By virtue of; with the pledge of.
Examples:
"He affirmed or promised on his word, or on his honour."
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On as a preposition:
To the account or detriment of; denoting imprecation or invocation, or coming to, falling, or resting upon.
Examples:
"'On us be all the blame."
"A curse on him!"
"Please don't tell on her and get her in trouble."
"He turned on her and has been her enemy ever since."
"He went all honest on me, making me listen to his confession."
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On as a preposition (especially when numbers of combatants or competitors are specified):
Against; in opposition to.
Examples:
"The fight was three on one, and he never stood a chance."
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On as a verb (transitive, Singapore, Philippines):
to switch on
Examples:
"Can you on the light?"
"synonyms: turn on"
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On as a preposition (UK, _, dialectal, Scotland):
Without.
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On as a noun:
In the Japanese language, a pronunciation, or reading, of a kanji character that was originally based on the character's pronunciation in Chinese, contrasted with kun.
Examples:
"Most kanji have two kinds of reading, called "on" and "kun"."