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

All the changes and upkeep have been worth investing time in. —Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 9 Mar. 2025

So, part of the TVS thing is to provide expertise and training in tennis court and facility design, management and upkeep as well. —Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025

Unlike traditional subdivisions, Canyon Creek Forest is designed to provide homeowners with the freedom to enjoy their surroundings without the burden of extensive upkeep. —Prime Development, Kansas City Star, 2 Mar. 2025

Landscaping and upkeep took a hit, scaling back mowing, the park reservation system and weekend trash collection. —Jake Goodrick, Sacramento Bee, 20 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for upkeep

• asleep
• beep
• cheap
• creep
• deep
• heap
• jeep
• keep
• leap
• peep
• reap
• seep

Kids Definition

upkeep

noun

up·​keep ˈəp-ˌkēp 

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