1 B1 formal
To make a final, considered choice between options.
"After much deliberation, the board decided upon a new CEO."
“
She had decided upon a course of action.
— Jane Austen, Persuasion (1817)
inseparable
decide upon
B1 formal inseparable transitive
A formal or literary variant of 'decide on', meaning to reach a final choice about something.
In plain English
To choose something — this is just a more formal way of saying 'decide on'.
What does "decide upon" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Usage tip
Interchangeable with 'decide on' but sounds more formal or old-fashioned. More common in written English than in speech. Particularly found in legal, literary, and official texts.
Words that pair with "decide upon"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
course of action strategy plan name verdict approach
How to conjugate "decide upon"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
decide upon
I/you/we/they
3rd person
decides upon
he/she/it
Past simple
decided upon
yesterday
Past participle
decided upon
have + pp
-ing form
deciding upon
continuous
Hear "decide upon" in the wild
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Other ways to say "decide upon"
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