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
European ports like Rotterdam and Antwerp have been slammed with congestion throughout the year due to various labor strikes and disruptions, as well as schedule changes brought upon by the Red Sea diversions. Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 24 Oct. 2025 Navigating the world of priming serums can be a slippery slope due to heavy formulas and glitter-like ingredients that clump upon application. Tatayana Yomary, Essence, 21 Oct. 2025 Garcia joined forces with other parents who have been affected by AI companions to call upon tech companies to implement stronger safeguards to protect minors. Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 20 Oct. 2025 Their biting wit turned upon whiteness and the colonizer has served as much inspiration. Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 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 30 Oct. 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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