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
Company officials have described that as standard industry practice, but critics see it as a way for Hull to profit off the dams while avoiding liability for their upkeep.
—
CBS News, 12 June 2026
Natural stone can be more involved; it should be sealed before grouting and can require upkeep to protect against staining.
—Angelika Pokovba, Martha Stewart, 12 June 2026
The city also pays for a portion of the maintenance costs for the 19-acre home built in 1850, with the Bingham-Waggoner Historical Society coordinating upkeep and improvement projects.
—Ilana Arougheti
june 11, Kansas City Star, 11 June 2026
Like any protective style, proper installation and upkeep are key.
—Sunnah Rasheed, InStyle, 11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for upkeep
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
CBS News, 12 June 2026
Natural stone can be more involved; it should be sealed before grouting and can require upkeep to protect against staining.
—Angelika Pokovba, Martha Stewart, 12 June 2026
The city also pays for a portion of the maintenance costs for the 19-acre home built in 1850, with the Bingham-Waggoner Historical Society coordinating upkeep and improvement projects.
—Ilana Arougheti
june 11, Kansas City Star, 11 June 2026
Like any protective style, proper installation and upkeep are key.
—Sunnah Rasheed, InStyle, 11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for upkeep
Cite this Entry
“Upkeep.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/upkeep. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
upkeep
noun
up·keep
ˈəp-ˌkēp 
: the act or cost of maintaining in good condition : maintenance
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
