perk up

verb

perked up; perking up; perks up
Synonyms of perk upnext
informal
1
: to become more lively or cheerful or to make (someone) more lively or cheerful
We perked up when we heard the good news.
The good news perked everyone up.
2
: to make (something) fresher or more appealing
The new paint job really perked up the room.
3
chiefly US, of an animal's ears : to be lifted in a quick and alert way
The dog's ears perked up.
—often used figuratively of a person
My ears perked up when I heard my name mentioned.

Examples of perk up in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The lone exception was Microsoft , which had been crushed in June and had started to perk up into July. — Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 7 Aug. 2026 Ears should perk up, then, at his comments on fellow defensive lineman Eyioma Uwazurike, who seems directly poised to take on a greater role in 2026. — Luca Evans, Denver Post, 5 Aug. 2026 Blue and white, gold, mixed with stripes rendered in the brightest hues, polka dots have perked up seasonal summer fashions, especially swimwear, for decades. — Tonya Blazio-Licorish, Footwear News, 24 July 2026 Coco Gauff said something in her on-court interview Tuesday, after reaching her first Wimbledon semifinal with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 win against Jessica Pegula, that should’ve perked up the ears of anyone who’d watched the match. — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 7 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for perk up

Rhymes for perk up

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Browse Nearby Words

Perkinsiella
perk up
perk (up) one's ears
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Perk up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perk%20up. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on perk up

Nglish: Translation of perk up for Spanish Speakers

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