perk

1 of 3

verb (1)

perked; perking; perks

intransitive verb

1
a
: to thrust up the head, stretch out the neck, or carry the body in a bold or insolent manner
b
: to stick up or out jauntily
2
: to gain in vigor or cheerfulness especially after a period of weakness or depression
usually used with up
he's perked up noticeably

transitive verb

1
: to make smart or spruce in appearance : freshen, improve
often used with up
2
: to thrust up quickly or impudently

perk

2 of 3

verb (2)

perked; perking; perks

perk

3 of 3

noun

: perquisite
usually used in plural

Examples of perk in a Sentence

Verb (1) we perked up once the sun came out the dog tilts her head and perks up her ears whenever someone speaks to her Noun the salary's not great, but the perks make up for it
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.
Verb
The lead horse is upright, tense, its ears perked, while the other hangs its head, as if thinking deeply, horses think many things and are the closest of all animals to philosophers. Literary Hub, 10 Nov. 2025 With her ears perked, the cat jolted upright and began listening even more intently, knowing that her favorite person was home. Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Oct. 2025
Noun
Perhaps the best perk of all, Epic Friend Tickets are new for the 2025/2026 season, letting pass-holders to hook six of their friends up with 50 percent off lift tickets. Lydia Price, Travel + Leisure, 13 Nov. 2025 Holiday internet sales are here, and providers are offering some of their best prices and perks of the year. Roxanne Downer, USA Today, 11 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for perk

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English

First Known Use

Verb (1)

1583, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1b

Verb (2)

1922, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1869, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of perk was in 1583

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Perk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perk. Accessed 18 Nov. 2025.

Kids Definition

perk

verb
ˈpərk
1
: to lift quickly or alertly
the dog perked up its ears
2
: to make fresher in appearance
new paint perked up the room
3
: to become more lively or cheerful
usually used with up
we perked up at the good news

More from Merriam-Webster on perk

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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