upkeep

noun

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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

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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 upkeep is often the reason many decide to opt out. — Michella Oré, Glamour, 23 Sep. 2021 The upkeep of the station is one way the agency is taking ownership of responsibility, and fostering change and innovation. — Yadira Sanchez Olson, chicagotribune.com, 6 Aug. 2021 Who is responsible for the upkeep of my condo building? — BostonGlobe.com, 12 July 2021 They are usually constructed of metal or aluminum and designed to last for years with minimal upkeep. — Bridget Degnan, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Aug. 2021 Unsure of who was responsible for the upkeep of the ditch, Blair reached out to Reader’s Watchdog for guidance. — Sylvia Goodman, The Courier-Journal, 13 Aug. 2021 In director Romola Garai's devilish horror flick, an ex-soldier (Alec Secareanu) moves in to help a young woman (Carla Juri) with the upkeep of her decrepit house. — Bill Keveney, USA TODAY, 10 Aug. 2021 But over time, a gulf has separated many of those developments, a disparity created by differences in upkeep and oversight. — New York Times, 6 July 2021 The Robshams’ gift will also fund programming enhancements in psychology and theater as well as provide support for ongoing operations, repair, and upkeep of the Robsham Theater, named in honor of the couple’s son, E. Paul Robsham, Jr. — Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes, 3 Sep. 2021

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.

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upland

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Last Updated

17 Oct 2021

Cite this Entry

“Upkeep.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/upkeep. Accessed 27 Oct. 2021.

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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