What Does “Weigh upon sth” Mean?
“Weigh upon sth” means to cause a feeling of worry, stress, or burden on someone or something. It often refers to emotional or mental pressure.
Introduction
The phrasal verb “weigh upon sth” is commonly used to describe a heavy mental or emotional burden. When something “weighs upon” a person, it means it affects them deeply, often causing anxiety or sadness. Understanding the “weigh upon sth meaning” helps learners express feelings of pressure or concern clearly. This phrase is useful in both formal and informal contexts, especially when discussing problems, responsibilities, or moral dilemmas.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: weigh upon something
- Type: transitive
- Level: B2
- Short meaning: to cause mental or emotional pressure
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Weigh upon” is an inseparable phrasal verb, meaning the object always follows “upon”.
- Correct pattern: weigh upon + noun/pronoun
- Incorrect: weigh + noun + upon
Examples:
- Correct: The guilt weighed upon her conscience.
- Incorrect: The guilt weighed her conscience upon.
How to Use Weigh upon sth?
Use “weigh upon sth” to describe something that causes emotional or mental stress. It often refers to feelings like guilt, responsibility, or worry. You can use it in past, present, or future tenses, depending on the situation.
Common subjects include feelings, thoughts, or situations that create pressure on a person’s mind or heart.
Examples
When you want to express how a problem affects someone emotionally, “weigh upon sth in a sentence” is very helpful.
- The decision to leave his family weighed heavily upon him.
- Financial troubles were beginning to weigh upon her spirit.
- His conscience weighed upon him after he told a lie.
- The responsibility of managing the project weighed upon the team leader.
- That sad memory still weighs upon my mind.
Common Mistakes
Many learners confuse the structure or use “weigh upon” incorrectly. Here are some examples:
- Incorrect: The stress weighed her upon.
- Correct: The stress weighed upon her.
- Incorrect: The problem weighs on her mind.
- Correct: The problem weighs upon her mind.
Note: “Weigh on” is also correct but has a slightly different usage. “Weigh upon” is more formal and often used with abstract nouns.
Differences / Synonyms
“Weigh upon” is similar in meaning to “weigh on,” but “weigh upon” sounds more formal and literary. Both indicate pressure or burden.
- Weigh on: More common in everyday speech. Example: The debt weighs on him.
- Weigh upon: Slightly more formal or poetic. Example: The guilt weighed upon her conscience.
- Bearing down on: Suggests pressure but can be more physical or urgent.
- Press upon: Another formal synonym meaning to pressure or burden.
Common Collocations
Some common objects that “weigh upon” include feelings, thoughts, and responsibilities:
- Conscience: Feelings of guilt or moral pressure.
- Mind: Thoughts causing worry or stress.
- Heart: Emotional burden or sadness.
- Spirit: Overall emotional state or mood.
- Responsibility: Duties or tasks causing pressure.
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of weigh upon sth:
Real-life Dialogue
Imagine two friends talking about a difficult situation:
Anna: You look worried. What’s on your mind?
Ben: The decision to move abroad really weighs upon me. I don’t want to leave my family.
Anna: I understand. It’s a big change, but sometimes taking risks is worth it.
Practice
Try to complete the sentences with the correct form of “weigh upon”:
- The guilt of lying _______ his conscience for weeks.
- Heavy responsibilities often _______ the manager.
- Her thoughts about the exam results _______ her mind all day.
Answers: weighed upon, weigh upon, weighed upon
FAQ
- What does “weigh upon sth” mean? It means to cause mental or emotional pressure or burden.
- Is “weigh upon” separable? No, the object always comes after “upon”.
- Can I use “weigh on” instead? Yes, “weigh on” is more common in everyday speech but less formal.
- What objects usually follow “weigh upon”? Words like conscience, mind, heart, spirit, and responsibility.
- Is “weigh upon” only used for negative feelings? Mostly yes, it refers to burdens or pressures.
