upkeep
Americannoun
-
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
-
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.
Standing charges cover costs such as transporting energy to homes via pipes and wires, and the upkeep of that infrastructure.
From BBC ● Oct. 21, 2026
Charter Amendment PRK would accomplish that by doubling the minimum budget allocation set aside for the department, which oversees the upkeep of green spaces, playing fields and even senior centers.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
Fighter jets deployed in combat can require more upkeep than those flown in peacetime, and a shortage of specific components may also contribute to delays.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026
I do not believe it is reasonable for me to continue personally funding the properties while the other beneficiaries contribute nothing toward their upkeep.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 1, 2026
I went in about twice a month, adding depilation to an ever-growing list of upkeep requirements.
From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
