Upon

Pronunciation: /əˈpɑn/

Definitions of upon

preposition Upon is a preposition that indicates a position on top of or in contact with something.

Example Sentences

A1 I put the book upon the table.

A2 Upon arriving at the airport, she realized she forgot her passport.

B1 Upon hearing the news, he immediately called his family.

B2 The decision was made upon careful consideration of all the facts.

C1 Upon completion of the project, a detailed report was submitted.

C2 The success of the business was built upon years of hard work and dedication.

Examples of upon in a Sentence

formal Upon further investigation, it was revealed that the company had been involved in fraudulent activities.

informal I stumbled upon a really cool bookstore while exploring the city.

slang I can't believe she ghosted me right upon meeting her in person.

figurative Upon hearing the news, she felt a weight lifted off her shoulders.

Grammatical Forms of upon

• past tense: upon
• plural: upons
• comparative: more upon
• superlative: most upon
• present tense: upon
• future tense: will upon
• perfect tense: have upon
• continuous tense: am upon
• singular: upon
• positive degree: upon
• infinitive: to upon
• gerund: upon
• participle: uponing

Origin and Evolution of upon

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Old English

Story behind the word: The word 'upon' originated from Middle English, derived from the Old English preposition 'uppan' meaning 'up'

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'upon' has retained its basic meaning of indicating a position above or on top of something, but its usage has expanded to also convey a sense of immediacy or close proximity in modern English.