descend upon

USAGE SUMMARY

"descend upon" is both a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to indicate a sudden and usually unwelcome arrival or occurrence of something. For example, you could say, "The clouds descended upon us, obscuring the sun and bringing a chill to the air."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Violence and bloodshed will descend upon the Holy Land.

Yale University

After the shootings, reporters descend upon the town.

The New York Times - Books

And the 600,000 tourists who are expected to descend upon Rio should know it, too.

The Washington Post

Some winters, more than 10,000 American avocets descend upon its still-wild parts.

Yale University

He warned that a cloud of Soviet-style centralism would descend upon the world's financial capital.

The New York Times

Whether such calm will descend upon Ms. Blixseth remains to be seen.

The New York Times

He looks worried that the full weight of geekdom will descend upon him for his malapropism.

Independent

Once Tomalin is without the diary, a conditional haze begins to descend upon her biography.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

Nationalists descended upon Govan.

The Guardian

Hundreds descended upon Fishman's neighborhood, Oakwood Beach.

The New York Times - Sports

A plague of locusts descends upon Egypt.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "descend upon" when you want to emphasize a sudden, often overwhelming, arrival or impact. It works well for describing groups of people, abstract concepts, or even natural phenomena.

Common error

Avoid using "descend upon" with inanimate subjects when you intend to describe a gradual process. The phrase implies a rapid and forceful action, so it is better suited for events that happen quickly and noticeably.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "descend upon" primarily functions as a verb phrase, indicating an action of arriving or impacting suddenly and often unexpectedly. Ludwig confirms its correct usage, supported by numerous examples of its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

20%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Reference

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Science

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "descend upon" is a versatile verb phrase used to describe a sudden, often overwhelming, arrival or impact. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and prevalence across diverse contexts, particularly in news and media. When using this phrase, ensure it aligns with the intended emphasis on suddenness and is appropriately applied to the subject. While its register is generally neutral, consider the specific context to maintain clarity and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

flock to

Similar to throng, but suggests a more natural or instinctual movement.

swarm over

Implies a large group arriving and surrounding something quickly.

throng to

Implies a large crowd moving towards a specific location.

converge on

Suggests movement from different directions to meet at a single point.

pounce on

Suggests a sudden and aggressive action.

fall upon

Implies a sudden attack or impact.

invade

Indicates entering a place as an enemy or uninvited.

raid

Suggests a sudden attack or seizure.

overrun

Implies spreading over an area rapidly.

assail

Suggests attacking violently.

FAQs

How can I use "descend upon" in a sentence?

You can use "descend upon" to describe a sudden arrival or impact, such as "Reporters tend to "swarm over" a town after major news breaks".

What does "descend upon" mean?

"Descend upon" means to arrive suddenly and often unexpectedly, usually in large numbers or with a significant impact. It can also imply a forceful or overwhelming arrival.

What are some phrases similar to "descend upon"?

Similar phrases include "converge on", "fall upon", and "flock to", each with slightly different nuances depending on the context.

Is "descend upon" a formal or informal expression?

"Descend upon" is generally considered a neutral expression, suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though it is often found in journalistic and descriptive writing.