log (one) for (something)

dated To make a record of one's bad or immoral actions or behavior. The captain logged the crewmate for falling asleep at the tiller. The producer said he would be logging me for using the equipment out of office hours.

log in

1. To access a digital account or network, typically by entering personal credentials; to sign in. I'm having trouble logging in to my computer, so I haven't had a chance to check my email yet.

2. To allow someone to digital account or network; to sign someone in. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "log" and "in." I've having trouble accessing my account from home—any chance IT can log me in remotely?

3. To spend and record certain amount of time doing something. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "log" and "in." I've logged nearly 60 hours in this game so far. Please be aware that we are unable to pay overtime at the moment, so please be sure not to log in more than 40 hours of work each week.

log in to (something)

1. To access a digital account or network, typically by entering personal credentials; to sign in. I'm having trouble logging in to my computer, so I haven't had a chance to check my email yet. Make sure you log into your account on the website before you attempt to make a purchase.

2. To give someone access to an account or computer system. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "log" and "into." Can you log me into your computer? I need to check my email really quick, and my phone's battery is dead.

log off

To sign out of one's account, as on a computer or some digital platform, such as a website. Remember to log off my computer the next time you use it, OK?

log on

1. To access a digital account or network, typically by entering personal credentials; to log in. I'm having trouble logging on to my computer, so I haven't had a chance to check my email yet.

2. To allow someone to digital account or network; to log someone in. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "log" and "on." I've having trouble accessing my account from home—any chance IT can log me on remotely?

See also: log, on

log out

1. To sign out of one's account, as on an app, website, or computer. I think I accidentally logged out of Netflix—do you know the password to get back in? Make sure you log out when you are finished using the computer at the end of the day, or another student may be able to access

2. To sign someone out of an account or computer system. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "log" and "out." The system has logged you out due because you were inactive for more than five minutes.

log up

1. To count or record some number or amount of something. My fitness tracker logs up every step I take throughout the day to let me know how active I've been.

2. To acquire or accumulate a large number or amount of something, especially that which is added to a record or counter of some kind. If I have the right playlist of music playing, I can log up a lot of miles on my runs without even really feeling it in my legs.

log off

and log out

to record one's exit from a computer system. (This action may be recorded, or logged, automatically in the computer's memory.) I closed my files and logged off. What time did you log out?

log on

to begin to use a computer system, as by entering a password, etc. (This action may be recorded, or logged, automatically in the computer's memory.) What time did you log on to the system this morning? I always log on before I get my first cup of coffee.

See also: log, on

log someone off

and log someone out

[for someone] to cause someone to exit from a computer system. (This exit may be recorded, or logged, automatically in the computer's memory.) Mary had to rush off to an appointment, so I logged her off.

log someone on (to something)

to allow someone to link (electronically) to a computer system. (This action may be recorded, or logged, automatically in the computer's memory.) I will log you on to the system if you forgot how to do it. I will log on Jill, who is late.

See also: log, on

log something up

to record an amount of something. The ship logged many nautical miles up on its last voyage. It logged up a lot of miles.

log in

Also, log on. Enter into a computer the information needed to begin a session, as in I logged in at two o'clock, or There's no record of your logging on today. These expressions refer especially to large systems shared by numerous individuals, who need to enter a username or password before executing a program. The antonyms are log off and log out, meaning "to end a computer session." All these expressions derive from the use of log in the nautical sense of entering information about a ship in a journal called a log book. [c. 1960]

log in

1. To provide the necessary information to a computer for someone to be allowed to access computer resources; log on: I'll log you in so that you can access the library's resources. I sat at the terminal and logged in using my student account.

2. To spend some amount of time working: We've logged in 100 hours working on this project.

log on

To provide the necessary information to a computer for someone to be allowed to access computer resources: Let me log you on so that you can access the files yourself. You can't use this program until you log on.

See also: log, on

log out

or log off

To disconnect someone from some computer resource to which one has been connected or logged on: If you use the computer longer than one hour, it will automatically log you out. Don't log out of your account yet—I want to check something.