1 C1 idiomatic formal
Archaic: to rush out and attack someone or something.
"The ambushers fell out upon the merchant convoy as it passed through the narrow gorge."
inseparable
fall out upon
C1 formal inseparable transitive
An archaic or literary expression meaning to rush out and attack, or to chance upon someone.
In plain English
To suddenly attack someone, or to come across someone by chance (old-fashioned).
What does "fall out upon" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To fall outward and land upon someone — physically attacking or encountering.
Actually means
To suddenly attack someone, or to come across someone by chance (old-fashioned).
Usage tip
Largely archaic and found primarily in older texts. Not used in modern everyday speech. May appear in historical fiction or literary analysis. Modern equivalents include 'fall upon' or 'descend on'.
Words that pair with "fall out upon"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
enemy travellers strangers the town opponent
How to conjugate "fall out upon"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
fall out upon
I/you/we/they
3rd person
falls out upon
he/she/it
Past simple
fell out upon
yesterday
Past participle
fallen out upon
have + pp
-ing form
falling out upon
continuous
Hear "fall out upon" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "fall out upon" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "fall out 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.