sign on

verb

signed on; signing on; signs on
Synonyms of sign onnext

intransitive verb

1
: to engage oneself by or as if by a signature
signed on to the new project
2
: to announce the start of broadcasting for the day
sign-on
ˈsī-ˌnȯn How to pronounce sign on (audio)
-ˌnän
noun

Synonyms of sign on

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Examples of sign on in a Sentence

I signed on for the crew team simply as a lark
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.
In 2019, Roc Nation signed on to consult the NFL on live music entertainment and the social justice initiative Inspire Change, which aims to reduce barriers to opportunity, especially in underserved communities. — Laura Zornosa, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026 Plus, Anthropic signed on to spend $30 billion on Azure and contracting as much as a gigawatt worth of additional computing power. — Ashley Capoot,jordan Novet,annie Palmer,lora Kolodny,kai Nicol-Schwarz,caleigh Keating, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026 In the film, Vasarhelyi expresses dismay that her husband—the father of their two kids—is signing on for the Everest expedition, especially after so many of their friends have died. — Nick Paumgarten, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026 Lang, who plays Colonel Miles Quaritch in James Cameron’s Avatar franchise, has signed on to star in The Mercy Rider, a modern-day Western thriller which Edel will direct from a script by Richard Julian. — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sign on

Word History

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sign on was in 1879

Rhymes for sign on

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Browse Nearby Words

sign of the cross
sign on
sign one's own death warrant
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sign on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sign%20on. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

sign on

verb
(ˈ)sī-ˈnȯn, 
-ˈnän
1
: to hire oneself by or as if by a signature
signed on as a member of the crew
2
: to announce the beginning of broadcasting
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