upkeep

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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

See upkeep defined for English-language learners

See upkeep defined for kids

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 of upkeep from the Web

Starting this fall and into next year, the funding will pay for professionals to continue with planting and upkeep of the new prairie.

— diane moca, Naperville Sun, "North Central abuzz with project to help bees," 19 Aug. 2017
Now, dozens of people are employed to see to the White House's upkeep every day.

— ella ceron, Teen Vogue, "Chelsea Clinton Shaded President Trump for Reportedly Calling the White House a "Dump"," 2 Aug. 2017
The committee that financed the inauguration celebration of Gov. Matt Bevin dissolved last month after giving nearly a half million dollars in remaining funds to a new charity devoted to the upkeep of historic buildings in Frankfort.

— tom loftus, The Courier-Journal, "Gov. Matt Bevin's inauguration fund gives half mil to a new charity: #WeAreKY!," 20 July 2017
Rival factions of computer whizzes who play key roles in bitcoin’s upkeep are poised to adopt two competing software updates at the end of the month.

— lisa fleisher, Bloomberg.com, "This Is How Bad It’s Getting for Wall Street Traders," 14 July 2017
Successful applicant will oversee staff of 2,500, ensure upkeep, supervise purchases and promote estate’s interests at home and abroad.

— New York Times, "Fixing the Met: Art Lovers Speak," 14 July 2017
See, the upkeep of both the grounds and Gage Mansion comes from the residents’ $150-per-month association fees.

— jennifer rice epstein, Los Angeles Magazine, "Gage Mansion Is Moldering Away Right in Front of Its Owners’ Eyes," 10 July 2017
Proceeds from the event benefit the mill and museum's upkeep and programs.

— kimberly fornek, chicagotribune.com, "Graue Mill craft beer festival a hop-py event," 9 July 2017
Namely, experts have said that New York politicians have favored starting new projects rather than maintaining old ones, as ribbon cutting looks more impactful on a resume than upkeep of an existing piece of infrastructure.

— lucinda shen, Fortune, "Chicago’s Mayor Wrote an 800-Word Subtweet About New York’s Subway Problems," 4 July 2017

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.

First Known Use of upkeep

1884

upkeep Synonyms

UPKEEP Defined for English Language Learners

upkeep

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noun

Definition of upkeep for English Language Learners

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

UPKEEP Defined for Kids

upkeep

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noun up·keep \ ˈəp-ˌkēp \

Definition of upkeep for Students

: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

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Examples of upkeep in a Sentence

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UPKEEP Defined for English Language Learners

upkeep

Definition of upkeep for English Language Learners

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