fall upon

USAGE SUMMARY

The expression "fall upon" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something suddenly or unexpectedly happening, or to describe something that has already happened to someone. For example: "The news of his death suddenly fell upon us."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

"These tasks fall upon me".

The New York Times

I've never met a sword I wouldn't fall upon.

The New Yorker

I suspect the reflection will fall upon the reviewer.

The New York Times

So it would fall upon the government to create them.

The New York Times

Exclamation points fall upon the page like, well, scoriae.

The New York Times - Books

Two "ands" in succession fall upon an accented syllable.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

In 2007 at age 38, the irony of ironies fell upon me.

HuffPost

Four diners fell upon it, brandishing knives.

The New York Times - Food

Journalists fell upon the lists with glee.

The Economist

A reverent hush fell upon the crowd.

The Washington Post

His father, Vladimir Timofeyevich, fell upon it.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the connotation: "fall upon" can sometimes imply a negative experience, so ensure it fits the intended tone.

Common error

Avoid using "fall upon" when a more neutral term like "happen to" or "occur" is appropriate. "Fall upon" carries a stronger implication of impact or imposition.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fall upon" primarily functions as a phrasal verb, indicating that something happens to someone or something, often unexpectedly or with a sense of imposition. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrasal verb "fall upon" is a versatile expression used to describe events that occur unexpectedly or responsibilities that are assigned, often with a sense of impact or inevitability. Ludwig AI confirms that it's grammatically correct and applicable in a broad range of contexts. Its neutral register makes it suitable for diverse writing styles, from news reports to academic papers. The examples provided by Ludwig highlight its frequent use in News & Media, Academia and Wiki sources. While "fall upon" is widely used, considering alternative expressions such as "come upon" or "befall" can enhance the precision and nuance of your writing. Remember to consider the connotation of the phrase, as it can sometimes imply a negative experience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

come upon

Suggests encountering something unexpectedly.

light upon

Similar to 'come upon', suggesting a chance discovery.

chance upon

Emphasizes the accidental nature of the encounter.

befall

This term suggests something happening to someone, often something negative or unfortunate.

happen to

A general way to indicate an event occurring, without necessarily implying suddenness or force.

strike

Implies a sudden and often negative impact.

descend upon

Implies a more forceful or overwhelming arrival or occurrence.

occur to

Refers to a thought or idea coming to someone's mind.

rest with

Indicates responsibility or duty lying with someone.

devolve to

Suggests a transfer of power or responsibility.

FAQs

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

You can use "fall upon" to describe something suddenly or unexpectedly happening. For example, "A great responsibility "will fall upon" the new leader."

What does "fall upon" mean?

"Fall upon" means to happen to, affect, or become the responsibility of someone, often unexpectedly.

What can I say instead of "fall upon"?

You can use alternatives like "come upon", "befall", or "rest with" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "fell upon"?

Yes, "fell upon" is the past tense of "fall upon" and is grammatically correct. For example, "A great sadness "fell upon" the family after the news."