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 of upkeep

• maintenance
• preservation
• preserving

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

Under its agreement with the county, Friends of The Underline has to raise $3 million a year for the park’s upkeep through nonprofit The Underline Conservancy. — Isabel Rivera, Miami Herald, 12 Nov. 2026

The Met has also raised $200 million for the upkeep of the Neue Galerie, $50 million of which comes from the Lauder family. — Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 11 Nov. 2026

The ability to choose between these approaches makes the K70 suitable for both regular upkeep and more comprehensive cleaning sessions. — New Atlas, 6 Nov. 2026

Downtown Partnership says its goal for next year is to continue developing major corridors, including helping businesses with upkeep on their facades and signage. — CBS News, 6 Nov. 2026

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