upkeep
Americannoun
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the process or activity of providing an establishment, machine, person, etc., with necessary or proper maintenance, repairs, support, or the like.
The machine's faulty operation shows that no one has attended to its upkeep.
-
the total sum of the costs or expenses for this.
noun
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the act or process of keeping something in good repair, esp over a long period; maintenance
-
the cost of maintenance
Etymology
Origin of upkeep
Explanation
Upkeep is the process of caring for something so that it keeps working. Changing your car's oil every 5,000 miles is an important part of its upkeep. An actor's monthly visits to the salon for highlights show how much he cares about his hair's upkeep, while a city manager's focus might be on the upkeep of roads and bridges. In either case, there's a kind of maintenance or care involved. Sometimes this noun describes something closer to "financial support," like when a divorcing couple argues about who's responsible for the upkeep of their seven poodles.
Vocabulary lists containing upkeep
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
HOA fees have been rising with inflation and the upkeep costs of older buildings, making it tougher for consumers to buy condos.
From Los Angeles Times • May 13, 2026
That pushes road and bridge upkeep costs onto future drivers and general taxpayers.
From Salon • May 13, 2026
That is partly because many see the bags as assets comparable to a work of art, she added, “where costs such as acquisition, insurance and upkeep are significant considerations.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026
A lifelong animal lover, Kerry also has dogs, cats and a Siamese fighting fish called Gomez - but warned axolotls require careful upkeep.
From BBC • Apr. 26, 2026
“Yes, actually. Dark blue means scientist or researcher, and green means support staff—they do maintenance, upkeep, things like that.”
From "Allegiant" by Veronica Roth
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
