Definition

1. Noun:
   • The process or cost of keeping something in good condition and repair: "Upkeep" refers to the work or money needed to maintain a property, machine, or system so it continues to function properly.
   • The act of supporting or maintaining something, especially life: In a broader sense, it can refer to the provision of what is necessary for health and life, such as food and shelter.

Usage and Examples

• Noun (Maintenance):
  • The old house requires a lot of upkeep. (The old house needs a lot of maintenance work.)
  • The annual upkeep of the park is funded by the city. (The yearly cost of maintaining the park is paid for by the city.)
• Noun (Sustenance):
  • His small pension was barely enough for his upkeep. (His small pension was almost insufficient for his basic living expenses.)

Advanced Usage

• "to cover the upkeep of": to provide the money required for maintenance.
  • The rental income helps cover the upkeep of the building.
• "in a state of good upkeep": well-maintained.
  • The museum keeps its artifacts in a state of good upkeep.

Variants and Related Words

• Maintenance (n): The process of preserving a condition or situation or the state of being preserved. This is a very close synonym for the primary meaning of "upkeep."
• Care (n): The provision of what is necessary for the health, welfare, maintenance, and protection of someone or something.
• Sustenance (n): Food and drink regarded as a source of strength; nourishment. This relates to the secondary meaning of "upkeep."

Synonyms

• Maintenance: The work of keeping something in proper condition.
• Preservation: The act of maintaining something in its original or existing state.
• Support: To provide the means for someone or something to live or function.

Related Phrases

• Cost of upkeep: The ongoing expenses required for maintenance.
  • Before buying a boat, consider the high cost of upkeep.
• Responsible for the upkeep: Having the duty to maintain something.
  • Tenants are responsible for the basic upkeep of the garden.

Noun

1. the act of sustaining life by food or providing a means of subsistence
   • they were in want of sustenance
   • fishing was their main sustainment
2. activity involved in maintaining something in good working order
   • he wrote the manual on car care