upkeep

American  

[uhp-keep] / ˈʌpˌkip /

noun

1. 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.

2. the total sum of the costs or expenses for this.

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upkeep British  

/ ˈʌpˌkiːp /

noun

1. the act or process of keeping something in good repair, esp over a long period; maintenance

2. the cost of maintenance

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Etymology

Origin of upkeep

First recorded in 1880–85; up- + keep

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.

Example Sentences

“Home modifications and repairs, ongoing upkeep, paid help and in-home healthcare are not ‘extra’ costs — they are part of the real retirement budget.”

From MarketWatch • Apr. 15, 2026

Fix the fountain — perhaps with help from Project Restore L.A., a nonprofit doing good preservation work at City Hall — and arrange for its permanent upkeep.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 11, 2026

Financial advisers traditionally suggested setting aside 1% of a home’s value annually for upkeep, but many now argue that isn’t enough.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

Destroyed by bombing during the Israeli invasion in 1982 and rebuilt after the end of the civil war in 1990, it has fallen into disrepair due to a lack of funds for its upkeep.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

There was the cost of buying slaves and their upkeep on one hand and paying white workers meager but livable wages on the other.

From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead

Related Words

• conservation
• outlay
• preservation
• repair