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  1. Home /
  2. Dictionaries /
  3. English Dictionary /
  4. on location

on location

/ɒn ləˈkeɪʃən/
at the actual place where something happens

The film crew shot the scene on location in Paris.

They filmed the scene in Paris rather than in a studio.


informal

At the actual place where something happens, rather than in a studio or office.

The news team covered the protest on location.

They reported from the protest site itself.

The documentary was filmed entirely on location in the Amazon rainforest.

The entire filming took place in the rainforest.

Commonly used in film, news, and media contexts.

Collocations

shoot on locationto film at an actual placereport on locationto cover news from the scene

Synonyms

on-sitein personat the scene

Antonyms

in a studioremotelyoff-site

Related Phrases

off locationphrase
not at the actual place of an event
on-sitephrase
at the physical location of an event or project

Pro Tip

Media Context

This phrase is frequently used in film and news to indicate real-world filming or reporting.

Gold Rule

Avoid Confusion

Do not confuse 'on location' with 'in location'—the latter is not a standard phrase.

Word Origin

From the combination of the preposition 'on' and the noun 'location', emphasizing physical presence at a place.

Usage Notes

Often used in media and film industries to distinguish between studio and real-world filming.

Word Breakdown

on
at or to a place
preposition
+
location
a specific place
noun
English Dictionary
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