1 C1 formal
To rush at and attack someone or something suddenly and aggressively (archaic).
"The hawk flew upon its prey with terrifying speed."
fly upon
C1 formal transitive
To rush at and attack something or someone suddenly; or to seize upon something eagerly (archaic/literary).
In plain English
Suddenly rush toward and attack someone or something (old-fashioned).
What does "fly upon" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 idiomatic formal
To seize upon an idea, opportunity, or topic eagerly and immediately (archaic/literary).
"He flew upon every weakness in her argument and tore it apart methodically."
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To fly on top of or toward something — transparent when taken literally.
Actually means
Suddenly rush toward and attack someone or something (old-fashioned).
Usage tip
Largely archaic and found mainly in older literature. In modern English, 'fly at' is the more natural equivalent for the attack sense. 'Fly upon' may appear in reading of 18th–19th century texts. Occasionally used in elevated or poetic contemporary writing for stylistic effect.
Words that pair with "fly upon"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
enemy prey opportunity idea adversary
How to conjugate "fly upon"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
fly upon
I/you/we/they
3rd person
flies upon
he/she/it
Past simple
flew upon
yesterday
Past participle
flown upon
have + pp
-ing form
flying upon
continuous
Hear "fly upon" in the wild
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