perk up

phrasal verb

perked up; perking up; perks up

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

If your plants don’t perk up after watering or wilting happens repeatedly despite proper, consistent care, root damage or poor pot drainage may be to blame. —Gemma Johnstone, The Spruce, 12 Jan. 2026

Residents of Northern California might perk up their ears at the inclusion of the Columbia River Gorge, a rugged and waterfall-blessed region in Oregon and Washington that’s within striking range. —John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2026

Of course, many Allure editors have their own humidifiers to perk up their complexions. —Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 1 Jan. 2026

Washable slipcovers in lighthearted new fabrics perk up old upholstery and give the furniture a longer lifespan. —Zoe Gowen, Southern Living, 29 Dec. 2025

Rhymes for perk up

• backup
• blowup
• breakup
• buildup
• checkup
• cleanup
• holdup
• hookup
• lineup
• lockup
• makeup
• markup