From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishupkeepup‧keep /ˈʌpkiːp/ noun [uncountable] 1 LOOK AFTER somethingthe process of keeping something in good condition SYN maintenanceupkeep of Most of the money is spent on the upkeep of the building.2 the cost or process of looking after a child or animal and giving them the things they need Poorer people find it hard to pay for their pet’s upkeep.
Examples from the Corpus
upkeep• Substantial payments were made out of the Forest revenues for these and other purposes relating to the maintenance and upkeep of the castle.• It will pay for site preparation and upkeep of 4,600 acres being turned over by the Army.• You get more for your money if you buy an old house, but upkeep costs will be higher• Most Victorian churches had disappeared - upkeep could not be justified as they were quite unsuitable for individual meditation.• If you have sufficient plots to sell, you can afford to pay for upkeep on the rest of the place.• The borough would take responsibility for upkeep and maintenance of the ladder.• Floating homes take as much upkeep as houses on land, and then some, including checking for leaks.• The trustees are responsible for the upkeep of the bridge.• An annual £25 million goes on the upkeep of palaces, with no checks.• The Council's contribution towards the upkeep of the church is very much appreciated.From Longman Business Dictionaryupkeepup‧keep /ˈʌpkiːp/ noun [uncountable] the care and money needed to keep something in good conditionWe are introducing a user fee to finance the building and upkeep of state roads. 