always-on

adjective

al·​ways-on ˈȯl-wēz-ˈȯn How to pronounce always-on (audio)
-ˈän, 
-wəz-, 
-(ˌ)wāz-
also ˈȯ-
: always active, operating, or powered
an always-on Internet connection
When a power shortage occurs and electricity costs rise, the always-on devices scattered throughout … your facility consume increasingly expensive power.—Gilbert Held

Examples of always-on 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 promise of an always-on, local-first intelligent assistant with persistent background agents that execute consistently and reliably has massive appeal to those who want to bring AI capabilities more fully into their day-to-day lives. — Brian Westover, PC Magazine, 15 Oct. 2026 But what’s interesting to me is that one man, Peter Steinberger, was able to create an actually useful AI agent for the consumer with OpenClaw — an always-on tool, despite its privacy flaws. — Nilay Patel, The Verge, 8 Oct. 2026 Public cloud rewards bursty, variable demand, but for always-on workloads, pay-as-you-go premium and data egress fees compound fast. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 24 Sep. 2026 Lucy Guo is no stranger to the always-on culture that defines Silicon Valley startups. — Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for always-on

Word History

First Known Use

1976, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of always-on was in 1976

Rhymes for always-on

See All Rhymes for always-on

Browse Nearby Words

always
always-on
Alyce clover
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Cite this Entry

“Always-on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/always-on. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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