fallen upon

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fallen upon" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has happened unexpectedly or has come to someone, often in a negative context. Example: "The burden of responsibility has fallen upon her since the team leader resigned."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Once again, that responsibility has fallen upon Montgomerie and Garcia.

The Guardian - Sport

Atheism, it seems, has fallen upon evil days.

The New York Times

Nor should we forget how often and how beautifully snow has fallen upon America's cultural landscape.

The New York Times

And it has fallen upon Mr. Chambers to field a new winning team.

The New York Times

And their baleful glare has fallen upon the internet generally and social media in particular.

The Guardian - Opinion

Flash forward a few years and here's Sawyer from Lost, having fallen upon hard times.

The Guardian - Film

That's the kind of phrase another Scottish writer, Peter Davidson, would have fallen upon.

The Guardian - Books

That distinction, it would seem, has fallen upon George, widely considered a perennial All-Star in the making.

The New York Times

His family had, in his childhood, fallen upon hard times; he was orphaned and lived in his uncle's house.

The New Yorker

With 10 55 left before halftime, Gannon was sacked, then fallen upon by the 340-pound Ravens tackle Tony Siragusa.

The New York Times - Sports

What is the feeling at a moment when you realize that you've fallen upon a truly great discovery?

The New York Times - Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "fallen upon" to describe events or responsibilities that have unexpectedly or suddenly affected someone or something. It often implies a negative or burdensome impact.

Common error

Avoid using "fallen upon" when you mean simply "happened to" or "found". "Fallen upon" carries a stronger implication of unexpectedness or adversity.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "fallen upon" is as part of a phrasal verb, typically in the present perfect tense. It indicates that something has occurred and had an effect. Ludwig AI provides several examples demonstrating its usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

19%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrasal verb "fallen upon" is grammatically correct and commonly used to describe unexpected events or responsibilities, frequently with a negative implication. Ludwig AI confirms its usability and provides diverse examples from sources like The New York Times and The Guardian. While it's often interchangeable with alternatives such as "befallen" or "descended upon", it carries a specific nuance of unexpectedness. Remember to consider the context carefully to ensure the chosen phrase accurately conveys your intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

befallen

A more formal and literary alternative, implying something negative has happened.

descended upon

Suggests a sudden and often overwhelming arrival or impact.

devolved to

Indicates responsibility or a task being passed on, often due to someone else's inability or unwillingness.

landed on

A more literal alternative, suggesting something has physically come to rest on a surface.

come to pass

A more formal way to say that something has happened or occurred, often in a predetermined way.

overtaken

Suggests being suddenly affected or overwhelmed by something, like an emotion or event.

settled on

Implies a decision or choice has been made.

happened to

A more general way of saying that something occurred.

struck

Suggests a sudden and forceful impact, either literally or figuratively.

come upon

Indicates finding something unexpectedly, often by chance.

FAQs

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

You can use "fallen upon" to describe situations where something, usually negative or unexpected, has happened or affected someone. For instance, "A great misfortune has fallen upon their family" or "The responsibility for the project has "devolved to" her since the manager left".

What is a more formal alternative to "fallen upon"?

A more formal alternative to "fallen upon" is "befallen". For example, instead of saying "Hard times have fallen upon them", you could say "Hard times have befallen them".

Is "fallen upon" always negative?

While "fallen upon" often carries a negative connotation, it is not exclusively negative. It primarily indicates something unexpected has happened or someone has come across something, regardless of its nature. For example, one might say they've "come upon a great discovery", which is positive.

What's the difference between "fallen upon" and "fall upon"?

"Fallen upon" is the past participle form, used in perfect tenses (e.g., "Misfortune has fallen upon them"). "Fall upon" is the base form, used in simple present or future tenses (e.g., "Misfortune will fall upon them if they don't act").