English Reference
Noun

upkeep

n. uncountable
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈəpˌkip/ UK /ˈʌpkiːp/ up·keep UK spelling upkeeps

n.the work and money needed to keep a building, machine, or park in good condition. It is what you do to prevent something from breaking or becoming old and dirty.

n.the process of maintaining something in good condition through regular repair or financial support. Refers to both the physical labor and the associated costs of maintenance.


SIMPLE

The upkeep of a large garden takes a lot of time.

CONTEXTUAL

The city council struggled to find enough money for the upkeep of the historic library.

COMPLEX

While the initial purchase price of the estate was surprisingly low, the annual cost of its upkeep proved to be a significant burden for the new owners.

Usage

Typically used with the preposition 'of' to specify the object being maintained.

Those homeowners must share the costs of the blocks’ upkeep.

The Guardian· 11 Aug 2026

From up + keep.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated