upkeep

noun

up·​keep ˈəp-ˌkēp How to pronounce upkeep (audio)
1
: the act of maintaining in good condition : the state of being maintained in good condition
2
: the cost of maintaining in good condition

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 That kind of upkeep was more than Merriwether's descendants could take on, on their own. Maggie Menderski, The Courier-Journal, 27 Feb. 2024 With regular upkeep and a single deep clean, the device hasn’t shown any signs of significant wear, even after consistent use. Rachel Ahrnsen, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Feb. 2024 Teigen has been open about this aspect of post-procedure upkeep, sharing eyebrow maintenance posts on her Instagram. Kaitlyn Frey, Peoplemag, 8 Feb. 2024 By the late 1990s, the cemetery had fallen into disrepair, with a small but dedicated volunteer force attempting upkeep. Sherry Greenfield, Baltimore Sun, 30 Jan. 2024 The outdoor tournament is held at Wojtowicz Skating Park in downtown Scandia Proceeds from the tournament will go toward upkeep of the skating park, Roberts said. Mary Divine, Twin Cities, 24 Jan. 2024 The push to shrink the workforce could, on the other hand, affect agencies that handle city planning, park maintenance, engineering, upkeep of city buildings and youth development, among others, Szabo said. David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2024 Green revisited the idea of imposing a fee on travelers to help pay for environmental upkeep after a proposal to do so died in committee last year. Audrey McAvoy, Fortune, 23 Jan. 2024 The group has raised nearly $27,000 of the $40,000 needed to not only cover the cost of the monument and installation, but also to pay for upkeep of the memorial garden along with support for active-duty Marines and families who are in need. Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Feb. 2024

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.

Word History

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of upkeep was in 1884

Dictionary Entries Near upkeep

Cite this Entry

“Upkeep.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/upkeep. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

upkeep

noun
up·​keep ˈəp-ˌkēp How to pronounce upkeep (audio)
: the act or cost of maintaining in good condition : maintenance

More from Merriam-Webster on upkeep

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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