Dictionary

upon en · ADP

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /əˈpɔn/ (Australia, British, Scotland, Southern, Standard)
• /əˈpɒn/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /əˈpɒn/ (New-Zealand)
• /əˈpɑn/ Northern US or with the cot–caught merger
• /əˈpɔn/ Midland US and Southern US, without the cot–caught merger
• [əˈpɔ̟n] (New-Zealand)

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *upó Proto-Germanic *ub Proto-Germanic *upp Proto-West Germanic *upp Old English upp Proto-Indo-European *h₂en-der. Proto-Germanic *an Proto-West Germanic *ana Old English on Old English uppan Middle English upon English upon From Middle English upon, uppon, uppen, from Old English upon, uppon, uppan (“on, upon, up to, against, after, in addition to”), equivalent to up (“adverb”) + on (“preposition”). Cognate with Old Saxon uppan (“upon”), Old High German ūfan, ūffan (“upon”), Icelandic upp á, upp á (“up on, upon”), Swedish uppå (“up on, upon”) (thence Swedish på), Danish på (“up on, upon”), Norwegian på (“up on, upon”).

Meanings

1. (qualifier:higher register or formal) alternative to on in most, though not all, prepositional uses.
   • The drums play on The year of the dog is upon us. 2023, Patricia Taxxon, “DEDGDEDCEGEOGCGHCOCTOHOTHTHT”, in TECHDOG:
   • Although the Celebrity was almost impervious to sarcasm, he was now beginning to exhibit visible signs of uneasiness, the consciousness dawning upon him that his eccentricity was not receiving the ovation it merited. 1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter V, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:
   • Little disappointed, then, she turned attention to "Chat of the Social World," gossip which exercised potent fascination upon the girl's intelligence. 1914 November, Louis Joseph Vance, “An Outsider […]”, in Munsey’s Magazine, volume LIII, number II, New York, N.Y.: The Frank A[ndrew] Munsey Company, […], published 1915, →OCLC, chapter I (Anarchy), page 373, column 2:
   • But as they were upon going forth, a trumpet was sounded without, three strident blasts. 1922, E[ric] R[ücker] Eddison, The Worm Ouroboros: A Romance, London: Jonathan Cape […], →OCLC, page 7:
   • A vase of flowers stood upon the table. — The painting hangs upon the wall. — All of the responsibility is upon him. — She plays upon a violin (or piano). — The lighthouse that you can see is upon the mainland. — He rested upon his elbows. — Tug upon the rope; push hard upon the door! — I stubbed my toe upon an old tree stump. — He wore old shoes upon his feet. — Born upon the 4th of July. — I have no opinion upon this subject. — They proceeded to arrest someone upon suspicion of bribery. — Upon Jack's entry, William got up to leave. — Before we knew it, the forest was upon us, and the air grew colder. — The holidays are upon us again. — What will be the effect upon morale? — Have pity or compassion upon him. — They lived upon ten dollars a week. — We ate heaps upon heaps of food. — I depended upon them for assistance. — He affirmed or promised upon his word. — Upon my life, I am innocent. — A curse upon him! — They claimed the report contained "innuendo upon innuendo."
   • No news of them? Why, so: and I know not what's spend in the search: why thou loss upon loss! the thief gone with so much, and so much to find the thief; and no satisfaction, no revenge: nor no ill luck stirring but what lights on my shoulders; no sighs but of my breathing; no tears but of my shedding. c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i]:
   • Yesterday, upon the stair / I met a man who wasn’t there / He wasn’t there again today / I wish, I wish he’d go away … 1899, Hughes Mearns, Antigonish:

Forms

Deriveds

breathe upon · put a slight upon · prevail upon · pitch upon · upon the carpet · put upon · shame upon you · wear one's heart upon one's sleeve · upon one's speed · rely upon · upon the whole · take upon oneself · begin upon · Clifton-upon-Dunsmore · fall out upon · piss be upon him · fall upon · upon a sudden · Stratford-upon-Avon · upon 'Change · put one's foot down upon · settle upon · light upon · remark upon · out upon · upon the heels of · Barton upon Irwell · upon the strength of · gain upon · shit upon · come upon the town · two upon ten · call upon · Wath upon Dearne · frown upon · stand upon points · fall upon someone's neck · blow upon · dawn upon · stand upon one's terms · build upon · peace be upon her · reckon upon · upon the wing · break a butterfly upon a wheel · come down upon · set upon · land upon · upon reflection · Stoke upon Tern · upon a time · come upon · set fire upon · Barrow upon Trent · touch upon · pawn upon · upon my sivvy · have one's heart set upon · bring upon · stack-upon-the-kill · act upon · bear upon · upon the tapis · base upon · city upon a hill · prey upon · shame upon me · break a fly upon a wheel · lie upon · jump upon · dwell upon · chance upon · cast one's bread upon the waters · take it upon oneself · once upon a time · carry one's heart upon one's sleeve · Ashton upon Mersey · upon the books · hit upon · tread upon · upon a sixpence · play upon words · turn upon · round upon · reflect upon · sit upon · play upon · wait upon · upon the whole matter · upon my word · put-upon · Burton upon Stather · sweet upon · Kingston upon Thames · shine down upon · close in upon · allot upon · come upon the parish · pig upon bacon · sit-upon · pig upon pork · upon the by · Newcastle upon Tyne · hereupon · upon a stound · rest upon · Newcastle-upon-Tyne · improve upon · 'pon · whereupon · look upon · lay hold upon · fix upon · upon pain of · Bolton upon Dearne · upon the matter · keep one's head upon one's shoulders · Burton upon Trent · happen upon · Stanton upon Hine Heath · rain death upon · upon my soul · break upon the wheel · Berwick-upon-Tweed · shed light upon · break a butterfly upon the wheel · upon the point of · upon the square · wish upon a star · fall back upon · down upon one's luck · break a fly upon the wheel · Richmond upon Thames · Barrow upon Soar · condescend upon · count upon · run upon sorts · look down upon · descend upon · upon the instant · decide upon · peace be upon him · Singapore-upon-Thames · stumble upon · stand upon · butterfly upon a wheel · upon one's legs · draw upon · seize upon · set one's heart upon · upon the back of · stand upon one's dignity · fly upon · Kingston-upon-Thames · wait upon hand and foot · swear upon · upon the pad · Barrow upon Humber · Clifton upon Teme · Barton upon Humber · hinge upon · dance upon nothing · hang upon · thereupon · Kingston upon Hull