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

Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about upkeep

Keep scrolling for more

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 year, according to Reuters, South Korea also paid about $857 million for the upkeep of U.S. troops under a 5-year bilateral cost sharing arrangement signed with the U.S. in 2014. — Time, "Inside Camp Humphreys, South Korea: America's Largest Overseas Military Base," 13 July 2018 Of about 220 monks, the younger ones were conscripted into the German army, the elders were kicked out, and 63 monks stayed at the monastery to perform forced labor on the farm and on the upkeep of a new military hospital. — Emanuella Grinberg, Smithsonian, "When a Bavarian Monastery Provided a Home to Jewish Refugees," 11 July 2018 This is a free event, but donations are always welcomed for the upkeep of the museum and event expenses. — Courant Community, "Community News For The Manchester Edition," 5 June 2018 It now is valued at about $25 million, and the Schleicher County Sheriff’s Office is responsible for upkeep of the Yearning for Zion Ranch. — Krista Johnson, USA TODAY, "This son of prophet Warren Jeffs has 54 brothers and sisters. Yet the former FLDS church member felt alone.," 8 Apr. 2018 Zequeira, an aviation structural mechanic, is an aircraft mechanic responsible for the upkeep and repair of combat jets. — Leigh Johnson, Houston Chronicle, "Taylor graduate re-enlists for four years in the Navy," 3 Apr. 2018 Proceeds benefit the maintenance and upkeep of the meeting house. — Zipporah Osei, BostonGlobe.com, "A ‘kindness garden’ to spread love and compassion," 28 June 2018 About half of the upkeep costs go to the defense contractor that built the warplane, Lockheed Martin. — Jay Bennett, Popular Mechanics, "Air Force May Need to Cut a Third of F-35 Fleet Due to High Operating Costs," 28 Mar. 2018 Ironing out the details of who maintains and finances the upkeep can also cause delays and potential hiccups. — New York Times, "New Parks Sprout Around New York," 8 June 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.

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about upkeep

Dictionary Entries near upkeep

Statistics for upkeep

Last Updated

15 Oct 2018

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for upkeep

The first known use of upkeep was in 1884

See more words from the same year

Keep scrolling for more

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