pep

1 of 2

noun

: brisk energy or initiative and high spirits

pep

2 of 2

verb

pepped; pepping

transitive verb

: to inject pep into
pep him up

Examples of pep in a Sentence

Noun The young teacher was full of pep. the students always display considerably more pep during the weeks immediately prior to the holidays
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Max Studio Georgette Smocked Maxi Dress $178 $50 This prim maxi dress comes in three striking, similar prints that will put some pep in your step. Wendy Vazquez, Southern Living, 23 Feb. 2024 The two began to dance and jiggle and move around with a pep in their step. Vulture, 7 Jan. 2024 Mixed with the pep of yellow, the color simultaneously brings tranquility and cheerfulness to a space. Marisa Spyker, Southern Living, 8 Feb. 2024 Sweaty Betty’s Color Theory line is the perfect way to add some pep into your step — or stride. Marissa Miller, Travel + Leisure, 27 Sep. 2023 Hoping for a bit of pep to overcome your social anxiety? Sam Stone, Bon Appétit, 1 Feb. 2024 Thomas walks with an upright kind of pep in his step, where Clarence kind of just flows in and out of situations. Okla Jones, Essence, 19 Jan. 2024 That pep in her step, however, is always paired with Marvin Miller’s barbed score, alerting us to trouble brewing. Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 25 Dec. 2023 The waterproof hiking shoes are also made to deliver responsive cushioning to the underfoot to prevent fatigue and discomfort by giving you an extra pep in your step. Alice Bennett, Travel + Leisure, 10 Oct. 2023
Verb
There’s something calming and refreshing about spritzing a fine, barely-there mist with a breath of delicious scent that feels incredible, especially in the spring and summer when temperatures are hotter, and the sun is stronger or after a long flight to pep me up before day one of a trip. Ali Faccenda, Travel + Leisure, 9 June 2023 And will baseball purists like me, stubborn in our ways, embrace the rule changes that Epstein and baseball’s poobahs are installing to pep up the game for a new generation? David Axelrod, CNN, 1 Apr. 2023 Truly the best way to pep up your Thursday. Christopher Rosa, Glamour, 16 Aug. 2020 Made with fresh corn and milk, onion, spices and sometimes goat cheese are added to pep it up. Sorrel Moseley-Williams, CNN, 5 Mar. 2023 Usually, only a couple of drops of either is needed to pep up a cocktail. Journal Sentinel, 30 Jan. 2023 Probably so, but ironically, the best way to pep yourself up is to get some exercise. Bryant Stamford, The Courier-Journal, 14 Oct. 2022 Mullins remembers pep rallies around campus to try to change that. Lila Bromberg, Hartford Courant, 23 June 2022 Chapman used products including vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, a hydrating booster and pep 8 serum to combat air travel dehydration. Monique Jessen, PEOPLE.com, 9 June 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pep.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

short for pepper

First Known Use

Noun

1908, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1912, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pep was in 1908

Dictionary Entries Near pep

Cite this Entry

“Pep.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pep. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

pep

1 of 2 noun
: brisk energy : liveliness
peppiness
-ē-nəs
noun
peppy
adjective

pep

2 of 2 verb
pepped; pepping
: to put pep into : stimulate
let's try to pep things up

Medical Definition

PEP

abbreviation
phosphoenolpyruvate

More from Merriam-Webster on pep

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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