Meaning & use
land on
Last updated
Meanings
verbtransitive
To decide finally to choose someone or something after considering other possibilities.
Grammar: Takes an object: land on a plan. The object can be a person or a thing.
Patterns
- land on something
- land on someone
- eventually land on something
After weeks of discussion, the committee finally landed on a date for the event.
We looked at several apartments and landed on the one near the park.
She landed on the idea of starting a small bakery.
verbintransitive
To come down and rest on a surface, especially after flying or jumping.
Grammar: No object; often used for birds, aircraft, or objects.
Patterns
- land on something
- land on the ground
- land on a branch
The bird landed on the fence and started singing.
The plane landed on the runway smoothly.
A leaf landed on my shoulder.
verbtransitive
To hit or arrive at a place or person suddenly and with force.
Grammar: Takes an object: land on someone's head.
Patterns
- land on someone
- land on something
- land on someone's head
The ball landed on my head and I saw stars.
A heavy branch landed on the roof during the storm.
His punch landed on the other boxer's shoulder.
Common combinations
- land on a decision
- The board landed on a decision after a long debate.
- land on a name
- They landed on a name for the new product.
- land on your feet
- After losing his job, he landed on his feet and found a better one.
- land on the moon
- The astronauts landed on the moon in 1969.
Synonyms and how they differ
- settle on
- Similar meaning, but 'settle on' often suggests a slower, more careful choice.
- decide on
- More general; 'decide on' focuses on the act of deciding, while 'land on' emphasizes the final result after considering options.
- choose
- Simpler and more direct; 'choose' does not imply a long process.
Commonly confused: land on or land in? land on or land up?
land on vs land in
Means 'arrive in a place' (e.g., land in Paris), not 'decide on'.
land on vs land up
Means 'end up in a situation', often unexpectedly (e.g., land up in jail).
Practice
After a long search, they finally ______ a good candidate for the job.
Choose one answer.
'Landed on' is the correct phrasal verb meaning 'decided on'. 'Landed in' and 'landed at' refer to physical arrival, and 'landed to' is not used in this sense.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “land on”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.