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
Compared to ultrasonic models, evaporative humidifiers tend to cost less up front, though that balances out with the long-term upkeep cost of replacing filters.
—
Paige Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Apr. 2024
Of that total, more than 17% would come from the city’s parks agency, which handles the upkeep of Griffith Park, Elysian Park and hundreds of other open spaces.
—David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2024
Julie Gould and Beth Kelly took over stewardship of Ojibway’s enchanting fairyland almost two years ago, enlisting Scout troops and students to help with the upkeep.
—Cathy Free, Washington Post, 28 Mar. 2024
How to Keep Hair Healthy Between Trims & Cuts
The upkeep between hair appointments is just as important as getting those regular trims (or cuts when necessary).
—Audrey Noble, Vogue, 19 Mar. 2024
For 2022-2023, King Charles made the equivalent of almost $109 million from that grant, which is used to fund the upkeep of their properties, pay staff, and cover the cost of other royal duties like speaking engagements and visits.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 16 Mar. 2024
The owner, Simone, had been pleased to hear from me, urging me to stay for a few weeks in exchange for upkeep.
—Frederick Kaufman, Harper's Magazine, 26 Feb. 2024
The state received $828 million from the FHWA for general highway upkeep in the 2024 fiscal year and got another $88 million specifically for bridges.
—Jacob Bogage, Washington Post, 11 Apr. 2024
For the look of lawn grass, but not the upkeep, mondo is your plant.
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 9 Apr. 2024
Paige Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Apr. 2024
Of that total, more than 17% would come from the city’s parks agency, which handles the upkeep of Griffith Park, Elysian Park and hundreds of other open spaces.
—David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2024
Julie Gould and Beth Kelly took over stewardship of Ojibway’s enchanting fairyland almost two years ago, enlisting Scout troops and students to help with the upkeep.
—Cathy Free, Washington Post, 28 Mar. 2024
How to Keep Hair Healthy Between Trims & Cuts
The upkeep between hair appointments is just as important as getting those regular trims (or cuts when necessary).
—Audrey Noble, Vogue, 19 Mar. 2024
For 2022-2023, King Charles made the equivalent of almost $109 million from that grant, which is used to fund the upkeep of their properties, pay staff, and cover the cost of other royal duties like speaking engagements and visits.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 16 Mar. 2024
The owner, Simone, had been pleased to hear from me, urging me to stay for a few weeks in exchange for upkeep.
—Frederick Kaufman, Harper's Magazine, 26 Feb. 2024
The state received $828 million from the FHWA for general highway upkeep in the 2024 fiscal year and got another $88 million specifically for bridges.
—Jacob Bogage, Washington Post, 11 Apr. 2024
For the look of lawn grass, but not the upkeep, mondo is your plant.
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 9 Apr. 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.
Dictionary Entries Near upkeep
Cite this Entry
“Upkeep.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/upkeep. Accessed 2 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
upkeep
noun
up·keep
ˈəp-ˌkēp 
: the act or cost of maintaining in good condition : maintenance
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