upon

upon
up|on [ ə`pan ] preposition ***
1. ) on LITERARY on or onto something:
Shadows were flickering upon the studio floor.
He believes we were put upon this earth for a purpose.
2. ) used after some verbs instead of on FORMAL used after some verbs with the same meaning as on :
A police patrol happened upon a robbery in a bank yesterday.
They draw upon their experience to educate and guide new companies.
My whole future depended upon the decision of this one manager.
3. ) immediately after FORMAL immediately after doing something or after something happens:
His first act upon taking office was to repeal the luxury tax.
Upon his release, Davis went immediately to his mother's.
4. ) happening soon if an event or time is upon you, it is going to happen very soon:
The fall TV season is upon us.
5. ) used for emphasizing an amount used between two nouns that are the same for emphasizing that there is a large number of the thing that you are mentioning:
I've written to you, year upon year, and never heard from you.
We drove across mile upon mile of wide-open space.

Usage of the words and phrases in modern English. 2013.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?
Synonyms:
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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Upon — Up*on , prep.[AS. uppan, uppon; upp up + on, an, on. See {Up}, and {On}.] On; used in all the senses of that word, with which it is interchangeable. Upon an hill of flowers. Chaucer. [1913 Webster] Our host upon his stirrups stood anon. Chaucer.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • upon — tends to sound more formal and emphatic than on when the two are used interchangeably: to look upon someone as a friend is a somewhat more imposing proposition than to look on them as a friend. Upon is the only choice in certain fixed expressions …   Modern English usage

  • upon — [ə pän′, ə pôn′] prep. [ME < up,UP1 + on,ON, prob. infl. by ON upp á (< upp, upward + á, on)] ON (in various senses), or up and on: on and upon are generally interchangeable, the choice being governed by idiom, sentence rhythm, etc. adv. 1 …   English World dictionary

  • upon — early 12c., from UP (Cf. up) + ON (Cf. on); probably influenced by O.N. upp a. Distinct from O.E. uppan which merely meant up. In the mod. Scand. tongues, except Icelandic and Færöese, the reduced form pa, paa, corresponding to Eng. (colloq. or… …   Etymology dictionary

  • upon */*/*/ — UK [əˈpɒn] / US [əˈpɑn] preposition Collocations: Upon is much more formal than on, but it can be used with the same meanings as the preposition on in the following cases: on/onto an object or surface: It fell upon the ground. supported by a part …   English dictionary

  • upon — [[t]əpɒ̱n[/t]] ♦♦ (In addition to the uses shown below, upon is used in phrasal verbs such as come upon and look upon , and after some other verbs such as decide and depend .) 1) PREP If one thing is upon another, it is on it. [FORMAL] He set the …   English dictionary

  • upon — up|on W1S3 [əˈpɔn US əˈpa:n] prep formal [Date: 1100 1200; Origin: up + on] 1.) used to mean on or onto ▪ an honour bestowed upon the association ▪ We are completely dependent upon your help. ▪ Brandon threw him upon the ground. 2.) if a time or… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • upon — /euh pon , euh pawn /, prep. 1. up and on; upward so as to get or be on: He climbed upon his horse and rode off. 2. in an elevated position on: There is a television antenna upon every house in the neighborhood. 3. in or into complete or… …   Universalium

  • UPON — prep. = ON. Usage: Upon is sometimes more formal, and is preferred in once upon a time and upon my word, and in uses such as row upon row of seats and Christmas is almost upon us. Etymology: ME f. UP + ON prep., after ON upp aacute …   Useful english dictionary

  • upon — (as used in expressions) Kingston upon Hull Newcastle (upon Tyne), William Cavendish, 1 duque de Newcastle upon Tyne Stratford upon Avon …   Enciclopedia Universal

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