Whereupon

/ˌwɛərəˈpɒn/

adverbmediumCommonLiterature

Definitions

1

Immediately after which; as a consequence.

/ˌwɛərəˈpɒn/

adverbneutralmedium
Literature

Indicating the consequence or result of something just mentioned.

The rain started, whereupon the game was called off.

💡 Simply: Imagine you're telling a story. You describe something, and then BAM! Something else happens right after. That 'and then' part is what 'whereupon' means. Like, 'I opened the door, whereupon the dog ran out!'

👶 For kids: It means 'right after that' or 'because of that'.

More Examples

2

He received the news, whereupon he fainted.

3

The alarm sounded, whereupon everyone evacuated the building.

How It's Used

Formal Writing

"The judge issued the verdict, whereupon the courtroom erupted in cheers."

Legal Documents

"The company filed for bankruptcy, whereupon the employees lost their jobs."

From "where" + "upon," indicating a state or action immediately following another. It emerged in Middle English, likely as a fusion of similar phrases.

Common in legal documents, formal writing, and historical narratives, often indicating a direct consequence.

Memory tip

Think of it as 'and then.' The 'upon' implies something immediately following.

where upon

Usage

10%Spoken
90%Written