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
And while the real thing is a great gift idea for seasoned green thumbs, novice plant owners can still enjoy the look (minus the fussy upkeep) with this faux version that looks surprisingly realistic.
—
Kristi Kellogg, Architectural Digest, 7 Oct. 2025
Small daily habits paired with a simple weekly routine make sink upkeep effortless.
—Halee Miller Van Ryswyk, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Oct. 2025
Running a flat iron through—the fibers respond effortlessly, so hot tools deliver sleek results without constant upkeep or excessive heat.
—Noel Cymone Walker, StyleCaster, 25 Sep. 2025
If this is your first time getting a good coffee grinder, the necessary upkeep might surprise you.
—Noah Kaufman, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for upkeep
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Kristi Kellogg, Architectural Digest, 7 Oct. 2025
Small daily habits paired with a simple weekly routine make sink upkeep effortless.
—Halee Miller Van Ryswyk, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Oct. 2025
Running a flat iron through—the fibers respond effortlessly, so hot tools deliver sleek results without constant upkeep or excessive heat.
—Noel Cymone Walker, StyleCaster, 25 Sep. 2025
If this is your first time getting a good coffee grinder, the necessary upkeep might surprise you.
—Noah Kaufman, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for upkeep
Cite this Entry
“Upkeep.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/upkeep. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
upkeep
noun
up·keep
ˈəp-ˌkēp 
: the act or cost of maintaining in good condition : maintenance
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