1 B1 neutral
To physically leap onto a person, animal, or object.
"The dog jumped upon the visitor the moment he walked through the door."
inseparable
jump upon
B2 neutral inseparable transitive
To leap onto something or someone, or to seize on an opportunity or remark eagerly.
In plain English
To jump on top of something, or to grab an idea or mistake very quickly.
What does "jump upon" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic neutral
To eagerly seize on an opportunity, idea, or mistake.
"The press jumped upon the minister's careless remark and ran with it for days."
inseparable
3 B2 idiomatic informal
To criticize or attack someone verbally without warning.
"She jumped upon him for being five minutes late, which seemed rather unfair."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To propel one's body upward and land on top of something.
Actually means
To jump on top of something, or to grab an idea or mistake very quickly.
Usage tip
'Jump upon' is an older, more literary or formal variant of 'jump on'. In modern speech, 'jump on' is far more common. 'Jump upon' appears more frequently in written or historical texts.
Words that pair with "jump upon"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
opportunity idea suggestion mistake bandwagon back
How to conjugate "jump upon"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
jump upon
I/you/we/they
3rd person
jumps upon
he/she/it
Past simple
jumped upon
yesterday
Past participle
jumped upon
have + pp
-ing form
jumping upon
continuous
Hear "jump upon" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "jump upon" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "jump upon"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.