1
: the act of maintaining in good condition : the state of being maintained in good condition
2
: the cost of maintaining in good condition
Synonyms
Examples of upkeep in a Sentence
Who is responsible for the upkeep of these buildings?
Once your car gets that old, the cost of upkeep can get very expensive.
The yard requires very little upkeep.
We sold our horse because we could no longer afford its upkeep.
Recent Examples on the Web
As these fraying wires age into disrepair, critical infrastructure will be at risk of failure, no different than roads, bridges, and tunnels without proper upkeep.
—
Timor Brik, Orlando Sentinel, 27 June 2024
These new bridges were designed to require less maintenance and upkeep than the old bridge’s triple-arch design.
—Michael Wells, Kansas City Star, 18 June 2024
Around him were signs of attentive upkeep: new hoses, valves and a hydraulic pump; fresh upholstery on the wheelhouse bench; a new computer monitor connected to a satellite navigation system.
—C.j. Chivers James Patrick Cronin Elena Hecht Anna Diamond Quinton Kamara, New York Times, 6 June 2024
Rising homeowners insurance rates, increasing property taxes in most towns and cities and the cost of home upkeep also are putting pressure on homeownership, experts say.
—Ed Stannard, Hartford Courant, 2 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for upkeep 
Timor Brik, Orlando Sentinel, 27 June 2024
These new bridges were designed to require less maintenance and upkeep than the old bridge’s triple-arch design.
—Michael Wells, Kansas City Star, 18 June 2024
Around him were signs of attentive upkeep: new hoses, valves and a hydraulic pump; fresh upholstery on the wheelhouse bench; a new computer monitor connected to a satellite navigation system.
—C.j. Chivers James Patrick Cronin Elena Hecht Anna Diamond Quinton Kamara, New York Times, 6 June 2024
Rising homeowners insurance rates, increasing property taxes in most towns and cities and the cost of home upkeep also are putting pressure on homeownership, experts say.
—Ed Stannard, Hartford Courant, 2 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for upkeep
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'upkeep.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near upkeep
Cite this Entry
“Upkeep.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/upkeep. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
upkeep
noun
up·keep
ˈəp-ˌkēp 
: the act or cost of maintaining in good condition : maintenance
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