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
Unlike traditional cast-iron skillets, this one is coated in a black satin enamel that prevents food from sticking to the bottom, resists rust, and doesn’t require seasoning or regular upkeep.
—
Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 7 Jan. 2026
The first topic would permit the city to spend more than $2 million of taxpayer dollars to purchase a building and transform it into a long-term homeless shelter, one which would cost more than $100,000 a year to staff and upkeep.
—Dillon Thomas, CBS News, 7 Jan. 2026
The result is a quietly luxurious look, with very minimal upkeep.
—Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 7 Jan. 2026
For interpersonal issues, start with an acknowledgement of how much effort goes into home upkeep.
—Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for upkeep
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Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 7 Jan. 2026
The first topic would permit the city to spend more than $2 million of taxpayer dollars to purchase a building and transform it into a long-term homeless shelter, one which would cost more than $100,000 a year to staff and upkeep.
—Dillon Thomas, CBS News, 7 Jan. 2026
The result is a quietly luxurious look, with very minimal upkeep.
—Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 7 Jan. 2026
For interpersonal issues, start with an acknowledgement of how much effort goes into home upkeep.
—Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 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 8 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
upkeep
noun
up·keep
ˈəp-ˌkēp 
: the act or cost of maintaining in good condition : maintenance
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