upon

Meaning

A higher-register or more formal alternative to on in most, though not all, prepositional uses.

Synonyms

on

🔛

above

over

at

opposite

against

by

onto

on top of

about

opposed to

in exchange for

in

across from

up

🆙

into

concerning

for

upwards

towards

after

with

next to

to

aboard

overhead

toward

an

atop

beside

dash

💨

inside

per

unto

upper

upstairs

near

each

of

during

on high

disjunction

on top

beyond

based on

at the rate of

adjoining

press

press down

regarding

settled

thereon

through

ascend

all

apiece

a

a

among

in the sky

seated down

up to

alongside

along

at the time of

exert pressure

near to

high up

in order to

on the top

in the case of

go up

Hyphenated as

up‧on

Pronounced as (IPA)

/əˈpɒn/

Etymology

From Middle English upon, uppon, uppen, from Old English upon, uppon, uppan (“on, upon, up to, against, after, in addition to”), equivalent to up (“adverb”) + on (“preposition”). Cognate with Old Saxon uppan (“upon”), Old High German ūfan, ūffan (“upon”), Icelandic upp á, upp á (“up on, upon”), Swedish uppå (“up on, upon”) (thence Swedish på), Danish på (“up on, upon”), Norwegian på (“up on, upon”).

Sentences

Then the thing came upon him in a flash .

She wears upon her head a mural crown and veil .

Normal heights are thus dependent upon the reference ellipsoid chosen .