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Definitions

be on

VERB
act
Synonyms
STRONGEST
enact perform play portray
STRONG
burlesque characterize dramatize emote feign ham impersonate mime mimic mug parody personate personify pretend rehearse represent simulate star stooge strut
WEAK
bring down the house do a turn go on go over ham it up lay an egg make debut play act play gig play part play role put it over say one's piece take part tread the boards
Antonyms
STRONGEST
direct fail prevent stop
WEAK
abstain cease discontinue give up halt hesitate idle refrain
VERB
lie
Synonyms
STRONGEST
belong exist prevail remain spread stretch
STRONG
be beset extend occupy reach
WEAK
be beside be buried be established be even be fixed be found be interred be level be located be placed be seated be smooth have its seat in
VERB
perform
Synonyms
STRONGEST
display execute give go on offer play present produce represent show stage
STRONG
discourse dramatize emote enact exhibit ham impersonate personate playact render
WEAK
act out appear as bring down the house do a number do a turn ham it up put on tread the boards
Antonyms
STRONGEST
abandon conceal deny hide refrain refuse take withhold
STRONG
fail
WEAK
direct halt prevent stop
VERB
play-act
Synonyms
WEAK
bring down the house burlesque characterize do do a turn dramatize emote enact feign go on go over ham ham it up impersonate lay an egg make debut mime mimic mug parody perform personate personify play play gig play part play role portray pretend put it over rehearse represent say one's piece simulate star stooge strut take part tread the boards

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“You need to be on your Ps and Qs in both categories,” Snead said, “both variables, right, to earn that type of contract.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2026

Age verification can be narrow, limited to confirming a user is old enough to be on the platform without collecting additional personal data.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

The King will be on a different coast but will be in the same country where his son Prince Harry and daughter-in-law Meghan now live.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

Google’s researchers said a quantum computer may be on the horizon that’s powerful enough to crack a bitcoin wallet’s secret key in as few as nine minutes, potentially giving attackers access to investors’ funds.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026

Then I’ll convince Mom to get an apartment in the McNuts school district so I can be on the basketball team.

From "The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman" by Gennifer Choldenko

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.