1
: the act of maintaining in good condition : the state of being maintained in good condition
2
: the cost of maintaining in good condition
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
This eye-catching look works well for naturally deep cool-toned brunettes who want to make a big statement without too much upkeep.
—
Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 4 Apr. 2026
Frustrated with the constant upkeep he’s required to do in his job for Old Art (Miguel Bonilla), the Curator eagerly opens the crate to reveal a statue reminiscent of Michelangelo’s David.
—Michelle F. Solomon, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2026
This results in proactive solutions and lower costs in greenery upkeep, leading to healthier and flourishing green wall installations.
—Shirl Leigh
april 03, New Atlas, 3 Apr. 2026
These donated statues almost never came with money for their upkeep, usually only promises that loving hands and fans would tend them.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for upkeep
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Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 4 Apr. 2026
Frustrated with the constant upkeep he’s required to do in his job for Old Art (Miguel Bonilla), the Curator eagerly opens the crate to reveal a statue reminiscent of Michelangelo’s David.
—Michelle F. Solomon, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2026
This results in proactive solutions and lower costs in greenery upkeep, leading to healthier and flourishing green wall installations.
—Shirl Leigh
april 03, New Atlas, 3 Apr. 2026
These donated statues almost never came with money for their upkeep, usually only promises that loving hands and fans would tend them.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for upkeep
Cite this Entry
“Upkeep.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/upkeep. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
upkeep
noun
up·keep
ˈəp-ˌkēp 
: the act or cost of maintaining in good condition : maintenance
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