upkeep

noun

up·keep | \ ˈəp-ˌkēp

Definition of upkeep

1 : the act of maintaining in good condition : the state of being maintained in good condition

2 : the cost of maintaining in good condition

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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

Pal prostrates and leaves a few dollar bills on the floor as an donation for upkeep. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Sikh drivers are transforming U.S. trucking. Take a ride along the Punjabi American highway," 27 June 2019 Maryland today uses taxpayer dollars to provide for the cross’ upkeep. — Matt Ford, The New Republic, "Neil Gorsuch Scorns the “Offended” Atheists," 21 June 2019 Get a Brazilian wax every three to four weeks for best upkeep; this allows the right amount of time for hair to grow back and help avoid ingrown hairs. — Audrey Noble, Harper's BAZAAR, "Everything You Need To Know Before Getting A Brazilian Wax," 21 May 2019 And, as is standard for Balboa Park institutions, the museum must handle the interior upkeep of its building. — Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, "Timken Museum lease agreement sets precedent for Balboa Park institutions," 4 June 2019 Key reasons seniors move to a retirement community are the following: No more upkeep of a large home. — Houston Chronicle, "Treemont maintenance director Don Ibanez excels for 34-plus years," 16 Apr. 2018 But the congregation dwindled to about a dozen and couldn’t afford upkeep on the building. — al.com, "Church in path of 1998 tornado closes," 6 June 2019 Meanwhile, the provincial government is complaining about paying million for upkeep on empty venues, with the national government unwilling to assume the costs. — Stephen Wade, The Seattle Times, "Tokyo Olympics: Costs hit almost $25 billion _ may go higher," 9 Oct. 2018 The judging criteria will be how color is used, how appropriate the display is for the structure’s architecture, upkeep, originality and decorative exterior structures. — Erik S. Hanley, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "How can you win money and help beautify South Milwaukee? The new 'Beautification Awards'," 30 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'upkeep.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

9 Jul 2019

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Time Traveler for upkeep

The first known use of upkeep was in 1884

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More Definitions for upkeep

upkeep

noun

English Language Learners Definition of upkeep

: the process of keeping something in good condition : the care or maintenance of buildings, equipment, etc.

See the full definition for upkeep in the English Language Learners Dictionary

upkeep

noun

up·keep | \ ˈəp-ˌkēp

Kids Definition of upkeep

: the act or cost of keeping something in good condition … “the rent is cheaper than what your old house costs in upkeep.”— Ellen Raskin, The Westing Game