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
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.
The woman only screamed while on the phone with 911, police said. Samara Gerstle, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 July 2025 Tamra says that Katie was on the phone with her husband and didn’t even say good-bye to him. Brian Moylan, Vulture, 18 July 2025 In 911 calls released on Tuesday, July 15, good Samaritans could be heard banging on the plane’s windows while other witnesses were on the phone with dispatchers, according to the Sun Sentinel. Abigail Adams, People.com, 16 July 2025 The Padres’ scouting department had as of Monday evening already been on the phone with more than a half-dozen prospects who did not have their named called Sunday or Monday. Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for on the phone

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“On the phone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20the%20phone. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!