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

Because the Della Mini Split has fewer mechanical components than conventional central systems, regular upkeep tends to be more straightforward. —Jon Stojan, USA Today, 10 May 2025

Charcoal grills also tend to be smaller in size and are slightly more practical in terms of upkeep (no replacement tanks, no gas hookups). —Rachel Fletcher, Architectural Digest, 9 May 2025

This allows individuals to enjoy the benefits of private air travel without the responsibilities of upkeep, licensing, insurance and storage that come with private airplane ownership. —Eileen Falkenberg-Hull, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 May 2025

This strategic pivot ensures a focus on execution rather than upkeep. —Richard Jones, Forbes.com, 1 May 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