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

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

While 1% may cover routine upkeep, 2% to 3% provides a more realistic cushion for expected maintenance, home-improvement projects and unexpected repairs, particularly for older homes, said Angie Hicks, co-founder of home-services company Angi.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

Service charges cover the costs of buildings insurance, repairs and maintenance to the exterior of the properties, such as the cleaning of shared spaces or upkeep of communal gardens.

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026

"I'd rather get hit than take shelter in there," joked mayor Ghanayem, not dwelling on who was responsible for their upkeep.

From Barron's • Mar. 14, 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

Related Words

• conservation
• outlay
• preservation
• repair