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upon meaning

EN[əˈpɒn]
US
  • Adverb
    1. Being the target of an action.
      1. He was set upon by the agitated dogs
    2. Incidental to a specified point in time or order of action; usually combined with here-, there- or where-.
      1. The clock struck noon, whereupon the students proceeded to lunch.
  • Preposition
    1. Being above and in contact with another.
      1. Place the book upon the table. ‎
    2. Being directly supported by another.
      1. The crew set sail upon the sea. ‎
      2. She balanced upon one foot. ‎
    3. Being followed by another so as to form a series.
      1. hours upon hours, years upon years ‎
    4. At a prescribed point in time.
      1. The contract was rendered void upon his death. ‎
    5. On.
      1. Although the Celebrity was almost impervious to sarcasm, he was now beginning to exhibit visible signs of uneasiness, the consciousness dawning upon him that his eccentricity was not receiving the ovation it merited.
  • More Examples
    1. Used in the Middle of Sentence
      • The policeman decided to act upon the basis of his informants phone call
      • Objection is sometimes offered to this system upon the hypothesis that all but the rich or fullhanded, are excluded from our sanctuaries.
      • Let America add Mexico to Texas, and pile Cuba upon Canada; let the English overswarm all India, and hang out their blazing banner from the sun [ …] — Herman Melville, Moby-Dick.
    2. Used in the Beginning of Sentence
      • Upon arrival at the campsite, they discovered that they had forgotten the tent pegs and had to use rocks and logs to tether the tent instead.
      • Upon the occasion of his first publication he quit his day job, only to find that Grub Street wasn't lined with manors and villas but hovels and slums.
      • Upon a hanging ledge of rock unstable, / Th' unsurest spot that may in earth be found, / Showing to all that she is never stable.
    3. Used in the Ending of Sentence
      • Baiting fish is not illegal in this state, but strongly frowned upon.
      • Because of the professor's venerability his opinion was often asked, but his actual attendance in committee meetings was not insisted upon.

Meaning of upon for the defined word.

Grammatically, this word "upon" is an adverb, more specifically, an uncomparable adverb. It's also a preposition.
  • Part-of-Speech Hierarchy
    1. Adverbs
      • Uncomparable adverbs
      • Prepositions
      Difficultness: Level 1
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      Easy     ➨     Difficult
      Definiteness: Level 7
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      Definite    ➨     Versatile
      Related Links:
      1. en upon't
      2. en upon the by
      3. en upon a stound
      4. en upon the tapis
      5. en upon the whole
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