Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

on air

Word Rarity Common

Frequency: Zipf frequency 5.36 in modern English

Syllables: on air
IPA

5

Scrabble Score

5

Letters

1

Syllables

5

Unique Chars

Meaning

prep_phrase

Broadcasting or transmitting through the medium of radio or television.

prep_phrase

Being, or so as to be, broadcast or transmitted by radio or television.

prep_phrase

Smoothly; gracefully.

prep_phrase

prep_phrase

Won with a high card though capturing only small cards.

prep_phrase

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see on, air.

Example Sentences

"Julie is on air now, presenting the weather forecast."
"Channel 9 will be on air in a few minutes, giving a live broadcast."
"The transmitter remained on air all through the war."
"The microphone was on air, and the whole country heard the outburst."
"It can get very hectic in the studio, especially when a news story breaks while we are on air."
"However, he had no contract with my Tongan friends and it was strictly against the rules to put performers on air without one."

Etymology

The broadcasting sense derives from the early use of radio, literally sending the transmission on the air waves.

Inflected Forms

on-air (alternative)

Synonyms

on the air

Antonyms

off air

Questions

What does on air mean?: Broadcasting or transmitting through the medium of radio or television.
Where does on air come from?: The broadcasting sense derives from the early use of radio, literally sending the transmission on the air waves.

How to pronounce on air

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