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Preposition after adjective

hell-bent on or upon?

Hell-bent is normally followed by on plus a goal or action. Hell-bent upon is also used, especially in formal style. Other prepositions are generally not idiomatic after hell-bent.

Quick answer

Which preposition goes with hell-bent?

The standard pattern is hell-bent on + noun or -ing form. Hell-bent upon is a more formal alternative with the same meaning. Hell-bent in, at, and for are not standard complements after this adjective, although those prepositions may appear separately as adjuncts in a sentence.

She was hell-bent on winning the case.
They seemed hell-bent upon revenge.
He is hell-bent on leaving early.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
hell-bent on + noun

Showing a fixed determination toward a goal

Use hell-bent on before a noun to describe intense determination.

The company is hell-bent on expansion in Asia.
2
hell-bent on + -ing

Showing determination to do something

Use hell-bent on before an -ing form to describe a determined action.

She was hell-bent on proving everyone wrong.
3
hell-bent upon + noun

Formal alternative to hell-bent on

Hell-bent upon has the same meaning as hell-bent on but sounds more formal or literary.

The villain was hell-bent upon destruction.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
hell-bent on
He is hell-bent on getting promoted.
Standard and most common pattern for strong determination.
hell-bent upon
She seemed hell-bent upon revenge.
Formal or literary alternative to hell-bent on.
hell-bent in
They were hell-bent in their pursuit of power.
In here introduces a separate phrase of context, not the complement selected by hell-bent.
hell-bent at
He was hell-bent at work all weekend.
At can express location or activity, but not the usual complement after hell-bent.
hell-bent for
They were hell-bent for trouble.
This appears in some fixed or dialectal expressions, but it is not the standard modern pattern.

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using in as the main complement

Use on or upon after hell-bent when describing a goal or intention.

✕ She is hell-bent in winning. ✓ She is hell-bent on winning.

Using at after hell-bent

At does not normally follow hell-bent to express determination.

✕ He was hell-bent at success. ✓ He was hell-bent on success.

For instead of on

For is generally not the standard complement in current English.

✕ They are hell-bent for changing the rules. ✓ They are hell-bent on changing the rules.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. She is hell-bent ___ becoming a famous actor.
2. The general seemed hell-bent ___ victory.
3. Choose the most natural sentence.

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Frequently asked questions

Is hell-bent upon old-fashioned?

It is still used, but it sounds more formal or literary than hell-bent on.

Can I use hell-bent with a verb?

Yes. Use hell-bent on plus an -ing form, such as hell-bent on winning.

Is hell-bent for correct?

It appears in some regional or fixed expressions, but hell-bent on is the standard modern choice.

halfway-through-between-up-down, to "handmade by" or "handmade in"? "hands-on with" or "hands-on in"? "handy for" or "handy in"? "happy with", "happy about" or "happy for"? hard for, on, at, of or in? harmful to, for, in, by or of? "harmless from" or "harmless to"? harsh on, in, for, with or to? "hateful to", "hateful towards" or "hateful of"? "hazardous to" or "hazardous for"? "head-to-head with" or "head-to-head in"?

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