upkeep

noun

up·​keep ˈəp-ˌkēp 

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

• care and feeding
• conservation
• conserving
• keep
• maintenance
• preservation
• preserving
• sustentation

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

Digital products: Sell e-books, online courses, or templates that can be downloaded repeatedly with minimal upkeep. —Lien De Pau, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025

Image: Tapo Tapo’s lock has a removable, rechargeable 10,000mAh battery that’s supposed to last a full year on a charge, which should make upkeep fairly low-effort. —Jacob Kastrenakes, The Verge, 6 Jan. 2025

Beyond the monumental scale of the addition, the wing will also allow the museum to do some behind-the-scenes upkeep. —Alex Greenberger For Artnews, Robb Report, 11 Dec. 2024

After accounting for theater upkeep—electric bills, cleaning, rent, etc.—the margins are pretty poor. —Eliana Dockterman, TIME, 26 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

upkeep

noun

up·​keep ˈəp-ˌkēp 

: the act or cost of maintaining in good condition : maintenance