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
The unit is ideal for small outdoor spaces, or for anyone who doesn’t want to deal with the upkeep of a full-sized fire pit.
—
Clara McMahon, Peoplemag, 31 May 2024
The lagging upkeep is a lingering side effect as the city has eased up on the budget cutbacks ordered by Mayor Mike Johnston earlier this year.
—Joe Rubino, The Denver Post, 30 May 2024
But in 2021, at the height of the pandemic, those growing expenses — staff pay, building upkeep, the price of medicine, and medical gear — outpaced the cash coming in.
—CBS News, 30 May 2024
Contractor Estimates: If your home is older than others in the neighborhood or needing some upkeep, have a contractor estimate your home’s value and send in those numbers as data.
—Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for upkeep 
Clara McMahon, Peoplemag, 31 May 2024
The lagging upkeep is a lingering side effect as the city has eased up on the budget cutbacks ordered by Mayor Mike Johnston earlier this year.
—Joe Rubino, The Denver Post, 30 May 2024
But in 2021, at the height of the pandemic, those growing expenses — staff pay, building upkeep, the price of medicine, and medical gear — outpaced the cash coming in.
—CBS News, 30 May 2024
Contractor Estimates: If your home is older than others in the neighborhood or needing some upkeep, have a contractor estimate your home’s value and send in those numbers as data.
—Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 May 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 9 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
upkeep
noun
up·keep
ˈəp-ˌkēp 
: the act or cost of maintaining in good condition : maintenance
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