Upkeep

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈʌpkip/

Definitions

1. The maintenance and care required to keep something in good condition or working order
2. The process of maintaining and preserving an object or property to ensure its functionality and aesthetic appeal
3. The actions taken to care for and maintain an item or property, ensuring it remains in optimal condition

Etymology: "Upkeep" is a plain compound of "up" and "keep," and its history is straightforward. "Keep" in the sense of maintaining or looking after something goes back to Old English "cēpan," meaning to watch over or take care of, and "up" adds the sense of maintaining something in good condition, keeping it from falling into disrepair. The compound's meaning shifted from the act of keeping something going to the money or effort required to do so. A house needs repairs, a garden needs weeding, and a car needs servicing, so "upkeep" came to name both the continuing work and the cost of that work. That double sense of labor and expense is what the word carries today.

Synonyms: maintenance, care, preservation

Antonyms: neglect, abandonment