What is upon? Pronunciation and usage in English

upon means . Learn how to pronounce and use upon through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of upon

uponpreposition

/əˈpɒn/
Definition & pronunciation of upon

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "upon" in English. It's a tricky one for many learners! Here's a breakdown with different approaches:

1. The Most Common and Generally Accepted Pronunciation (American English):

  • /əˈpʌn/ (This is using the International Phonetic Alphabet - IPA - which is a standardized way to represent sounds)

    • ə (schwa): This is a very short, unstressed vowel sound – like the "a" in "about." Think of it as a very relaxed "uh."
    • ˈpʌn: This is the stressed syllable. "pʌn" rhymes with "gun" or "sun." The "u" is pronounced like the "u" in "put."

2. British English Pronunciation:

  • /ˈʌpən/

    • ˈ: Indicates the stressed syllable.
    • ʌ: Similar to the American "ə" – a short, relaxed "uh" sound.
    • pən: Pronounced like “pen”.

Here's a breakdown of how to say it, step-by-step:

  • Start with a relaxed "uh" sound (ə or ʌ – depending on the accent).
  • Add a "p" sound.
  • Follow with a "n" sound.

Resources to Hear the Pronunciation:

  • Google Translate: Type "upon" into Google Translate and click the speaker icon. (This will give you the American pronunciation.)
  • Forvo: https://forvo.com/word/upon/ (This site lets you hear multiple pronunciations from native speakers in different accents.)
  • Youglish: https://youglish.com/w/upon (This shows you how the word is spoken in YouTube videos, giving you a good sense of natural pronunciation.)

Tips for Getting it Right:

  • Don't over-emphasize: The "upon" sound is often unstressed, so avoid making it sound like you're shouting it.
  • Listen carefully: The schwa sound can be difficult to hear. Listen to native speakers and try to mimic them.
  • Practice: Say it repeatedly!

To help me tailor the explanation even further, could you tell me:

  • Which accent are you most interested in learning? (e.g., American, British, Australian, etc.)

Usage and examples with the word upon in English

Let's break down how to use the word "upon" in English. It's a surprisingly versatile word with a few different nuances, and it’s often confused with “on.” Here's a detailed explanation:

1. Basic Meaning: "On" - The Most Common Usage

In many situations, "upon" functions identically to “on.” It indicates a position, a state, or a subject.

  • Position: “The book lay upon the table.” (Same as "on the table")
  • State: “She was upon her deathbed.” (Same as "on her deathbed")
  • Subject: “He reported upon the findings.” (Same as "reported on the findings")

2. Formal and Literary Usage – Signifying "Based On" or “Relies Upon”

This is where "upon" gets its distinctive feel. It carries a stronger sense of foundation, reliance, or basis.

  • Based on/According to: “The decision was made upon careful consideration.” (Meaning: The decision was made based on careful consideration.)
  • Relies upon: “The success of the project depends upon your expertise.” (Meaning: The success depends on your expertise – but with more emphasis on the expertise being the vital foundation.)
  • Dependent on: “The flights are upon a strict schedule.” (Meaning: The flights are dependent on a strict schedule.)
  • Confounded by: "He was confounded upon his own words.” (Meaning: He was confused by his own words)

3. "Upon" as a Verb (Less Common)

"Upon" can be used as a verb, meaning "to fall upon" or "to be imposed upon."

  • To fall upon: “The rain suddenly upon us.” (Meaning: The rain suddenly fell upon us.) – Slightly archaic.
  • To be imposed upon: “I felt upon to help them.” (Meaning: I felt obligated to help them – it’s a formal way of saying “I felt I should help them.”)

4. "Upon" with “a” or “the” – Rare, but Important to Recognize

This is a particularly formal and often archaic construction. It’s almost exclusively seen in legal documents, old literature, or very deliberate writing.

  • Upon a certain condition: “The contract is valid upon a certain condition.”
  • Upon the foregoing argument: “Upon the foregoing argument, we must conclude…” (Meaning: “Based on the argument we just presented…”)

Key Differences Between "Upon" and "On"

Feature Upon On
Formality More formal, literary Common, everyday
Emphasis Foundation, reliance, basis Position, state, subject
Usage Often interchangeable with "on" Generally the standard choice

Tips for Using "Upon"

  • Consider your audience: "Upon" is best suited for formal writing, speeches, or situations where you want to project a sense of importance or tradition.
  • Don’t overuse it: It can sound pretentious if used too frequently.
  • When in doubt, “on” is usually safe. However, if you want to add a touch of elegance or a more concrete sense of basis, "upon" may be a good choice.

Resources for Further Exploration:

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

  • What kind of writing are you working on? (e.g., academic essay, creative writing, business report, everyday conversation)
  • Can you give me an example sentence where you're considering using "upon"?

Synonyms for the word upon

Idioms of the word upon

once upon a time
used, especially at the beginning of stories, to mean ‘a long time ago in the past’
  • Once upon a time there was a beautiful princess.
(almost) upon you
if something in the future is almost upon you, it is going to arrive or happen very soon
  • The summer season was almost upon them again.

Practice with vocabulary upon

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. The success of any organizational change initiative hinges heavily ______ effective communication strategies.
  2. After careful deliberation, the committee decided to embark ______ a thorough review of the current security protocols.
  3. The project manager will provide an update ______ the progress of the team next Friday.
  4. Employees must adhere strictly ______ the company's code of conduct and ethics policy.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. ______ careful consideration, the board approved the proposed budget. a) Upon b) After c) Following d) During

  2. The government's new policy will likely have a significant impact ______ the national economy. a) upon b) on c) for d) with

  3. Managers are often called ______ to resolve interpersonal conflicts within their teams. a) upon b) on c) in d) for

  4. The presenter stepped ______ the stage to address the conference attendees. a) onto b) towards c) in d) through

  5. The final report must be submitted ______ the deadline, without exception. a) by b) until c) at d) on

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. Original: As soon as we receive the official approval, we will proceed with the implementation phase. Rewrite using "upon" or a related word form:

  2. Original: It is important for all team members to act based on the directives issued by the project lead. Rewrite using "upon" or a related word form:

  3. Original: The new system will be fully operational during the second quarter. Rewrite without "upon", using a suitable replacement word:

Answer:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. upon
  2. upon
  3. on
  4. to

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. a) Upon, b) After, c) Following
  2. a) upon, b) on
  3. a) upon, b) on
  4. a) onto, b) towards
  5. a) by

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. Upon receiving the official approval, we will proceed with the implementation phase.
  2. It is important for all team members to act upon the directives issued by the project lead.
  3. The new system will be fully operational in the second quarter.

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