# upon

Pronunciation: say "uh-PON" US /əˈpɑn/, UK /əˈpɒn/

## Preposition

1. A more formal or higher-register alternative to "on," used across most prepositional senses though not in every one.
   - Simple: A more formal word for "on," used in writing and in set phrases.
   - _The committee will decide upon a final candidate next week._
   - _Upon arrival, the guests were greeted with refreshments in the lobby._
2. Indicates that an event, season, or period of time is about to arrive or has already arrived.
   - Simple: Used to say that an event or a period of time is very near and about to come.
   - _With the holidays upon us, stores are staying open late._
   - _The deadline was upon her before she had finished half the report._
3. Joins a noun to a second use of the same noun, emphasizing that the number or amount involved is very large.
   - Simple: Used between a word and the same word again, as in 'row upon row', to show a huge number or amount.
   - _Thousands upon thousands of fans filled the streets after the final game._
   - _She spent hour upon hour rewriting the opening chapter._

## 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.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/upon (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).