Prepositions – What is the Difference Between ‘Up’ and ‘Upon’?

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Sometimes the preposition ‘upon‘ can be used to indicate ‘movement from a lower level to a higher level, keeping in touch with the surface‘ :

‘We went upon the hill.‘

But in this case, we can use the preposition ‘up‘ also :

‘We went up the hill.‘

What is the difference between ‘up‘ and ‘upon‘ in the above sentences?

Best Answer

I don't find We went upon the hill particularly idiomatic. Upon usually describes a position rather than movement. It's far more natural to say

We went up the hill

but you can say

We stood upon the summit of the hill, admiring the view.

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