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
The Catalan government in Spain sent a formal demand to the Aragonese government asking for €791,000 (around $920,000) to recoup costs related to the value and upkeep of artworks from the Royal Monastery of Santa María de Sigena it was ordered to return in 2017, according to a report in El País.
—
Andy Battaglia, ARTnews.com, 15 May 2026
Real ones often take a good amount of upkeep and can be especially prone to drying out in high summer heat and direct sun.
—Kate Donovan, Southern Living, 13 May 2026
Planting and transplanting watermelons is the most labor-intensive part of growing melons, but there is still some upkeep to do throughout the season to ensure watermelon plants thrive.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 May 2026
Good mass transit and walkable cities often eliminate the need for a car, and temporary stays eliminate mortgage costs and upkeep.
—Carole Rosenblat, CNN Money, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for upkeep
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Andy Battaglia, ARTnews.com, 15 May 2026
Real ones often take a good amount of upkeep and can be especially prone to drying out in high summer heat and direct sun.
—Kate Donovan, Southern Living, 13 May 2026
Planting and transplanting watermelons is the most labor-intensive part of growing melons, but there is still some upkeep to do throughout the season to ensure watermelon plants thrive.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 May 2026
Good mass transit and walkable cities often eliminate the need for a car, and temporary stays eliminate mortgage costs and upkeep.
—Carole Rosenblat, CNN Money, 12 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 18 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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