# decide upon

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/decide-upon
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to choose something after thinking about it carefully for a while.

For teachers: to select or settle on a particular option from a range of possibilities; often implies a period of deliberation or a formal conclusion.

## Examples

- We finally decided upon a date for the wedding.
- After reviewing all the applications, the committee decided upon the most experienced candidate for the role.
- The council has yet to decide upon a strategy that balances economic growth with environmental preservation.

## Pitfalls

- Not "They decided upon to go to Italy." but "They decided to go to Italy." — do not use 'upon' before an infinitive verb; it must be followed by a noun or a gerund.

## Usage notes

- more formal than 'decide on' and much more formal than just 'choose'.
- Teaching tip: point out that 'upon' is a formal variant of 'on'; in most spoken contexts, students should use 'decide on' to avoid sounding overly stiff.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.