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
Other Words for Home
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Stealing Little Moon
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Compound Fracture
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
"While historic indoor markets present unique operational challenges, our maintenance teams are actively addressing immediate issues, including external weeding, deep cleaning, and structural upkeep," it continued.
From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026
But the municipality counters that the tax hikes are a way to "share responsibility" for the city's upkeep between it and the tourism sector -- which ultimately benefits from its famously reliable public services.
From Barron's ● Jul. 10, 2026
The royal family relies on public funding to run its “core” operations, from trips around the U.K. and abroad to the pricey upkeep of aging palaces across the country.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026
“They have leveraged the property over time, and the upkeep is just not there. It’s sad to see it go downhill.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 6, 2026
Emanuel Ransom, a board member who believed the refugee community didn’t help enough with the center’s upkeep, thought the Decatur-DeKalb YMCA, which sponsored the Fugees, should pay more for the program’s use of the field.
From "Outcasts United: An American Town, a Refugee Team, and One Woman's Quest to Make a Difference" by Warren St. John
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.
