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 personMy ears perked up when I heard my name mentioned.
Examples of perk up in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The director’s large and devoted following is welcome as independent films have generally struggled post Covid and the 2025 indie box office only recently perked up from a long post-holiday lull.
—
Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 30 May 2025
Block offers temporary relief, creates more chaos However, while markets perked up following the ruling, there is likely to be little long-term relief, as nobody expects Trump to back down from his tariff tactics.
—Ashley Belanger – May 29, ArsTechnica, 29 May 2025
Active listings in Southern California, which dipped to a low of 37,000 homes for sale in the fall of 2023, perked up to 46,000 for-sale listings in March, Redfin numbers show.
—Jeff Collins, Oc Register, 21 May 2025
However, the poster noted that, during previous visits, her mother-in-law would mope when left alone during the day and only perk up when her son returned home.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for perk up
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Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 30 May 2025
Block offers temporary relief, creates more chaos However, while markets perked up following the ruling, there is likely to be little long-term relief, as nobody expects Trump to back down from his tariff tactics.
—Ashley Belanger – May 29, ArsTechnica, 29 May 2025
Active listings in Southern California, which dipped to a low of 37,000 homes for sale in the fall of 2023, perked up to 46,000 for-sale listings in March, Redfin numbers show.
—Jeff Collins, Oc Register, 21 May 2025
However, the poster noted that, during previous visits, her mother-in-law would mope when left alone during the day and only perk up when her son returned home.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for perk up
Cite this Entry
“Perk up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perk%20up. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
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