turn upon (something)
idiom
1
: to be determined or decided by (something)
The outcome of the election turns upon how well the candidates perform in the next debate.
2
: to have (something) as a main subject or interest
The discussion turned upon the question of how the money should be spent.
Examples of turn upon (something) in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The election will turn upon a multitude of dynamics, some too subtle to be apparent ahead of time.
—
Jelani Cobb, The New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2024
Jet Blue passengers seemed confused about the plane’s sudden turn upon landing, one traveler said.
—Matt Yan, BostonGlobe.com, 28 Feb. 2023
And because fluid dynamics are never simple, the jet stream exerts its own influence in turn upon these guiding waves.
—The Economist, 12 Sep. 2020
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Jelani Cobb, The New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2024
Jet Blue passengers seemed confused about the plane’s sudden turn upon landing, one traveler said.
—Matt Yan, BostonGlobe.com, 28 Feb. 2023
And because fluid dynamics are never simple, the jet stream exerts its own influence in turn upon these guiding waves.
—The Economist, 12 Sep. 2020
Cite this Entry
“Turn upon (something).” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/turn%20upon%20%28something%29. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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