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
This tasty perennial is hardy in USDA zones 3 to 9, requires minimal upkeep, and its yields become more abundant with each passing year.
—
Cori Sears, The Spruce, 9 May 2026
That means upgrading infrastructure in western neighborhoods, supporting local businesses, improving parks and public spaces, and planning maintenance on a more systematic citywide basis to improve fairness, predictability and long-term upkeep.
—Yair Gersten, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 May 2026
Those fees typically cover building maintenance, landscaping, amenity upkeep and reserve funds for major repairs.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 May 2026
That said, LeafFilter can be more expensive than other gutter guards, and the system can still require occasional cleaning and upkeep.
—Faith Wakefield, USA Today, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for upkeep
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Cori Sears, The Spruce, 9 May 2026
That means upgrading infrastructure in western neighborhoods, supporting local businesses, improving parks and public spaces, and planning maintenance on a more systematic citywide basis to improve fairness, predictability and long-term upkeep.
—Yair Gersten, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 May 2026
Those fees typically cover building maintenance, landscaping, amenity upkeep and reserve funds for major repairs.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 May 2026
That said, LeafFilter can be more expensive than other gutter guards, and the system can still require occasional cleaning and upkeep.
—Faith Wakefield, USA Today, 4 May 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 12 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
upkeep
noun
up·keep
ˈəp-ˌkēp 
: the act or cost of maintaining in good condition : maintenance
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