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count upon

B2 formal inseparable transitive
In simple words

To trust that someone or something will come through for you.

Literal meaning: To include something in your count as a certainty — mostly transparent.

Meanings

1 B2 formal

To trust that a person, organisation, or circumstance will behave in a reliable or expected way.

"In times of crisis, the prime minister declared that citizens could count upon the government's full support."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

Functionally identical to 'count on'. 'Count upon' is more formal and appears in written or literary English. Modern spoken English strongly prefers 'count on'.

Commonly used with

support loyalty integrity discretion promise assistance

Forms

Base
count upon
I/you/we/they
3rd person
counts upon
he/she/it
Past simple
counted upon
yesterday
Past participle
counted upon
have + pp
-ing form
counting upon
continuous

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