set upon: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal, Literary
Quick answer
What does “set upon” mean?
To attack suddenly or aggressively.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To attack suddenly or aggressively.
To begin criticizing or questioning someone intensely and persistently; to begin something with great energy or determination. Can also describe being overwhelmed by thoughts or feelings.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
"Set upon" is the standard form in both varieties. "Set on" is a less common but acceptable variant in British English, rarely used in American English.
Connotations
Identical. Both connote sudden, vicious, often multiple attackers.
Frequency
Slightly more common in British English, especially in journalistic or literary contexts describing attacks. American English may marginally favor "jump" or "attack" in everyday speech.
Grammar
How to Use “set upon” in a Sentence
[somebody] + set upon + [somebody/something][something] (e.g., doubts) + set upon + [somebody]be + set upon + by + [somebody/something]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “set upon” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The protesters were set upon by police dogs.
- As soon as he left the pub, a gang set upon him.
- A wave of nostalgia set upon her as she sorted through the old photos.
American English
- The jogger was set upon by two muggers in the park.
- Reporters set upon the senator as soon as her plane landed.
- Doubts began to set upon him as the deadline approached.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. May appear in metaphorical use: 'The CEO was set upon by shareholders at the annual meeting.'
Academic
Used in historical/literary analysis describing conflict or persecution.
Everyday
Most common in news reports about crimes or personal stories of sudden attack.
Technical
Not applicable.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “set upon”
- Using 'set on' in American English (awkward).
- Confusing it with 'set on' meaning 'to incite' (They set the dog on me).
- Incorrect word order: 'They set him upon' (correct: 'They set upon him').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an inseparable phrasal verb. You cannot say 'They set him upon'. It must be 'They set upon him'.
'Set upon' specifically emphasizes the suddenness and often the involvement of multiple attackers. 'Attack' is a broader, more general term.
Yes, it can be used metaphorically. For example: 'He was set upon by doubts' or 'Reporters set upon the celebrity' meaning they aggressively asked questions.
The past tense and past participle are both 'set upon'. Example: 'Yesterday, they set upon him.' / 'He has been set upon before.'
To attack suddenly or aggressively.
Set upon is usually formal, literary in register.
Set upon: in British English it is pronounced /ˌset əˈpɒn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌset əˈpɑːn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “be set upon by”
- “set upon doing something (rare, archaic)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a SET of wolves UPON a lone traveller, attacking suddenly.
Conceptual Metaphor
ATTACK IS A PHYSICAL BURDEN (he was set upon by troubles); CRITICISM/DOUBT IS A PHYSICAL ASSAILANT.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'set upon' used CORRECTLY?