Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

lock on

/ˌlɑk ˈɑn/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.51 in modern English

Syllables: lock- on
IPA: /ˌlɑk ˈɑn/

12

Scrabble Score

6

Letters

2

Syllables

5

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To begin tracking a target via an automated system.

Intransitive verb

verb

To cause a missile to track (a target).

Transitive verb

verb

To engage in a lock-on protest.

Intransitive verb

Example Sentences

"When the triangle came into view, the robot would then 'lock on' and move directly towards it, adjusting its course as it went."
"Glasgow's Sea Darts failed to lock on to the attackers, but the Sea Wolfs from Brilliant shot down one Skyhawk while another attacker crashed while trying to evade the missiles."

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˌlɑk ˈɑn/
British English: /ˌlɒk ˈɒn/

Usage

Inflected Forms

locks on (present, singular) locking on (participle, present) locked on (participle, past) locked on (past)

Frequently Paired Words

lock in home in

Questions

How do you pronounce lock on?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˌlɑk ˈɑn/.
What does lock on mean?: To begin tracking a target via an automated system.

How to pronounce lock on

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “lock on”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˌlɑk ˈɑn/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “lock on”.
Repeat and practice — Say “lock on” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.