upkeep

[ uhp-keep ]

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.

upkeep

/ ˈʌpˌkiːp /

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of upkeep¹

First recorded in 1880–85; up- + keep

Example Sentences

In an interview at the Economic Club of Chicago in October, Trump called South Korea a “money machine“ that isn’t paying enough for the upkeep of U.S. troops stationed within its borders.

From Los Angeles Times

But it would mean that he would have to find his own way of paying the upkeep and security of Royal Lodge, a 19th Century listed building in Windsor.

From BBC

It is thought that clarifying the borders will help both countries determine which is responsible for the upkeep of specific natural areas.

From BBC

Property taxes have not been paid on the Mulholland home since 2022, according to the county assessor’s office, and neighbors said that upkeep on the property appears to have declined in recent years.

From Los Angeles Times

The Sovereign Grant covers costs such as staffing, travel and the upkeep of royal buildings - but not security, for example.

From BBC

Related Words

• conservation
• outlay
• preservation
• repair