Meaning & use
upkeep
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Meanings
noununcountable
The ongoing work and money needed to keep something, such as a house, garden or machine, in good working order.
Grammar: Not used with an or plural s: the upkeep of the road, not an upkeep.
Patterns
- the upkeep of something
- upkeep costs
The upkeep of the old farmhouse takes up most of their weekends.
Residents pay a small monthly fee towards the upkeep of the shared courtyard.
A cheap car can turn out expensive once you count insurance and upkeep.
noununcountableformal
The money spent on providing someone, such as a child or relative, with food, housing and other basic needs.
Grammar: Often followed by of or for a person: the upkeep of her children.
Patterns
- the upkeep of someone
He sends money home each month for the upkeep of his younger brothers.
The court ordered a payment towards the children's upkeep.
Her salary barely covered her own upkeep, let alone a family's.
Common combinations
- cost of upkeep
- The cost of upkeep for a large garden is higher than most buyers expect.
- annual upkeep
- The annual upkeep of the village hall is paid for by local fundraising.
- pay for the upkeep
- Visitors' entry fees help pay for the upkeep of the castle.
- upkeep of the property
- The landlord is responsible for the upkeep of the property.
- expensive upkeep
- A wooden boat has expensive upkeep because it needs repainting every year.
Synonyms and how they differ
- maintenance
- Maintenance is the more general and technical word for the work itself, while upkeep stresses the continuing effort and cost of looking after something.
- care
- Care suggests gentle attention, often to living things, whereas upkeep is about keeping objects or places in working condition.
- preservation
- Preservation aims to protect something from loss or decay, usually something valuable or historic, while upkeep just keeps ordinary things in shape.
- keeping
- Keeping is a looser, older word that rarely refers to costs, and upkeep sounds more practical and financial.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: upkeep or upset?
upkeep vs upset
Upset is an adjective or verb about feelings or disturbing something; it has nothing to do with looking after things like upkeep does.
Practice
The landlord says the tenants must contribute to the ___ of the shared garden.
Choose one answer.
Upkeep is the ongoing care and cost of maintaining something. Upbringing is how a child is raised, so it fails despite looking similar.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “upkeep”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.