upon

Meaning

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

Synonyms

on
A1
🔛
above
B1
over
A1
at
A1
opposite
B2
against
A1
by
A1
onto
B1
on top of
about
A1

opposed to

in exchange for

in
A1
across from
up
A1
🆙
into
A1
concerning
C1
for
A1
upwards
C2
towards
B1
after
A1
with
A1
next to
to
A1
aboard
B2
overhead
C1
toward
B2
an
A1
atop
21k
beside
B2
dash
C1
💨
inside
A1
per
B1
unto
C1
upper
B2
upstairs
B1
near
A2
each
A1
of
A1
during
A2
on high
disjunction
on top
beyond
B1
based on

at the rate of

adjoining
25k
press
A2

press down

regarding
B2
Translations

auf
op
🆙
sobre
sur
🔛
aan
🔛
su
🆙
en
à
jegens
bij
em
sobre
🔛
met
a
a
Frequency

A2
Pronounced as (IPA)
/əˈpɒn/
Etymology

Inherited from Middle English
upon
Inherited from Old English
upon
Cognate with Old Saxon
uppan
Cognate with Old High German
ūfan
Cognate with Icelandic
upp
Cognate with Swedish
uppå
Cognate with Swedish
på
Cognate with Danish
på
Cognate with Norwegian
på
In summary

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”).

Improve your pronunciation

Write this word

Notes

Sign in to write sticky notes
English