upon

uponpreposition

Upon is a more formal on: it shows position on something, the moment something happens, and what something depends on, and in a few fixed patterns it shows a great number or something coming close.

1. onon top of, or touching, something

   Upon means the same as on in this use but is formal or literary; in everyday English use on.

   formal

   • She placed the book upon the table.
   • Snow lay upon the hills.

   Compare on

2. whenwhen something happens, or just after it

   Usually followed by a noun formed from a verb (arrival, delivery) or by an -ing form.

   formal

   • Upon arriving at the hotel, please show your ticket.
   • Payment is due upon delivery.
   • Upon hearing the news, she called her mother.

   Collocations

   phrase upon arrival, upon request, upon delivery, upon receipt

3. after some verbsused after some verbs and nouns in the same way as on

   Common after depend, rely, based, insist, and agree; on is always possible and is more common.

   formal

   • Our plans depend upon the weather.
   • The film is based upon a true story.
   • They finally agreed upon a price.

   Collocations

   verb + preposition depend upon, rely upon, insist upon, agree upon

   phrase based upon

4. manyused between two words that are the same to show a great number of things, one after another

   • There were thousands upon thousands of people in the square.
   • We drove past row upon row of small houses.

   Collocations

   phrase thousands upon thousands, row upon row, layer upon layer

5. coming soonclose to someone in time, so that it will soon happen to them

   Used in the pattern be upon someone, usually be upon us, about a time or event that is very close.

   • The holidays are almost upon us.
   • Winter was upon us before we were ready.

   Collocations

   phrase be upon us, be almost upon us

See also on