upon (preposition) LISTEN
Upon means ‘up and on.’
- "Climb upon my lap and I'll tell you a story."
- Jane placed a cherry upon her cake.
Upon also means ‘on the occasion of.”
- Upon hearing that she would become a grandmother, Barbara started knitting a blanket.
- Upon arrival in class, please sit down quietly and read your assignment.
Upon can also mean ‘near in time or space.’
- The beginning of the school year is upon us.
- The pickpocket was upon the tourist before he saw her.
Once upon a time is the beginning of many fairy tales. It is a signal to the reader (young children, especially) that the story did not really happen.
take upon yourself: take responsibility to do something. Example: “Andrew took it upon himself to do the gardening.”
In pop culture
Watch Coldplay’s music video of their song “God Put a Smile Upon Your Face.” Does this song put a smile upon your face?