upon
- 1A more formal or higher-register alternative to "on," used across most prepositional senses though not in every one.
The committee will decide upon a final candidate next week.
Upon arrival, the guests were greeted with refreshments in the lobby.
UsageIn everyday talk on is usual; upon stays common in set phrases: upon arrival, once upon a time, decide upon.
Similaron
Note
Up and on fused into one word long ago: Old English upon could also mean "up to," "against," "after" and "in addition to." That last meaning still drives the piling-up pattern, as in Shakespeare's loss upon loss in The Merchant of Venice. Another living use marks arrival or imminence: the year of the dog is upon us.
- 2Indicates that an event, season, or period of time is about to arrive or has already arrived.
With the holidays upon us, stores are staying open late.
The deadline was upon her before she had finished half the report.
UsageUsually be upon someone, often after with: with winter upon us. It often suggests time arriving before you are ready.
- 3Joins a noun to a second use of the same noun, emphasizing that the number or amount involved is very large.
Thousands upon thousands of fans filled the streets after the final game.
She spent hour upon hour rewriting the opening chapter.
UsageUsually no article: hour upon hour, or plural thousands upon thousands. Hour after hour stresses one coming after another.
Similarafter
Practice
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Origin
From Middle English upon, from Old English upon ("on, upon, up to, against"), equivalent to up (adverb) plus on (preposition). It is cognate with Old Saxon uppan, Old High German ūfan, Icelandic upp á, and Swedish uppå.
Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 3 facts
- Upon derives from Middle English upon and Old English upon, whose meanings included on, upon, up to, and against. en.wiktionary.org
- Upon is equivalent to up (adverb) plus on (preposition). en.wiktionary.org
- Upon is cognate with Old Saxon uppan, Old High German ūfan, Icelandic upp á, and Swedish uppå. en.wiktionary.org