click on
/klɪk ɒn/ IELTSAcademic
verb
To press or tap a mouse button, touch screen, or link so that a computer or phone opens something or chooses it.
- Click on the file to open it.
- Click on the blue button.
- She clicked on the link by mistake.
Adinary Nuance
Click on is the usual phrase for choosing something on a screen. It is more specific than just click, which can mean the mouse sound or the action itself. Use click on when you want to show the target, like a button, link, or icon.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- nhấp vào
- Spanish
- hacer clic en
- Chinese
- 点击
- Japanese
- クリックする
- Korean
- 클릭하다
Etymology
Click comes from English sound imitation, first used for a small sharp sound. The phrase click on developed later in computer language, especially from the late 20th century.
Common phrases
click on a linkclick on the iconclick on the buttonclick on the file
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is click on the same as click?
- Not always. Click on is clearer when you mean choosing something on a screen.
- Can I say click on for phones too?
- Yes. On phones, people also say tap on more often.
- Is click on formal or informal?
- It is neutral and common in everyday and work writing.
- What is the difference between click on and tap?
- Click on is for a mouse or sometimes general screen use. Tap is for touchscreens.