upon

1 of 2

preposition

up·​on ə-ˈpȯn How to pronounce upon (audio)
-ˈpän
: on

upon

2 of 2

adverb

up·​on ə-ˈpȯn How to pronounce upon (audio)
-ˈpän
1
obsolete : on the surface : on it
2
obsolete : thereafter, thereon

Examples of upon in a Sentence

Preposition He carefully placed the vase upon the table. They built their city upon a cliff overlooking the sea. She was seated upon a throne. an assault upon traditional values She was admitted to his office immediately upon her arrival. That kind of behavior is frowned upon.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Preposition
All of which meant Anderson tucked and rolled upon hitting the ground — and executed two perfect somersaults that carried her over the finish line. Anna Lazarus Caplan, People.com, 3 June 2025 Written on them is the oath that the researchers took upon becoming civil servants, according to one IFPTE member who asked not to be named. Joanna Thompson, Space.com, 28 May 2025 In turn, those aerosol particles provide a surface for water vapor to condense upon and form clouds. Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 May 2025 Trump and Zelensky later met in Rome at Pope Francis’s funeral, and the mineral deal was agreed upon and signed shortly after that, marking a step forward in the administration’s efforts to end the war. Lauren Irwin, The Hill, 7 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for upon

Word History

First Known Use

Preposition

12th century, in the meaning defined above

Adverb

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of upon was in the 12th century

Cite this Entry

“Upon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/upon. Accessed 9 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

upon

preposition
up·​on
ə-ˈpȯn,
-ˈpän,
-(ˌ)pən

More from Merriam-Webster on upon

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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