pep

1 of 3

noun

ˈpep 

: brisk energy or initiative and high spirits

pep

2 of 3

verb

pepped; pepping

transitive verb

: to inject pep into

pep him up

PEP

3 of 3

abbreviation

post-exposure prophylaxis

Treatments like post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), which is most effective within 72 hours of possible exposure to HIV, can help prevent its spread and save lives. … However, access is limited, and time is of the essence.

—Alexis Calatayud et al.

Synonyms of pep

Noun

• vigor
• energy
• juice

Verb

• stimulate
• jazz (up)
• zip (up)
• amp (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

Verb

the music at the party pepped everyone up

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Perhaps there was not quite the same twinkle in their eyes or pep in their step. — Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 10 June 2026

Make a pot then pour over your biscuits for a extra pep in your step in the morning. — Patricia S York, Southern Living, 17 June 2026

Verb

Mullins remembers pep rallies around campus to try to change that. — Lila Bromberg, Hartford Courant, 23 June 2022

Usually, only a couple of drops of either is needed to pep up a cocktail. — Journal Sentinel, 30 Jan. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun

short for pepper

First Known Use

Noun

1908, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1912, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing pep

• pep pill
• pep rally
• pep talk
• pep up

Rhymes for pep

• cep
• hep
• prep
• rep
• sep
• step
• steppe
• strep
• yep
• bicep
• doorstep
• footstep

Kids Definition

pep

1 of 2 noun

ˈpep 

: brisk energy : liveliness

peppiness

-ē-nəs

noun

peppy

-ē

adjective

pep

2 of 2 verb

pepped; pepping

: to put pep into : stimulate

let's try to pep things up

Medical Definition

PEP

abbreviation

1

phosphoenolpyruvate

2

post-exposure prophylaxis

Although fatal if untreated, human rabies can be prevented through post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), which involves a course of vaccination and immunoglobulin administered immediately after exposure.

—Eunha Shim et al., Vaccine