perkier; perkiest
1
a
: alert and full of vigor
… the caffeine makes it the rare dessert that leaves you feeling perkierStephanie Bedford
especially : cheerfully energetic
He's as perky as a male cheerleader. Franklin Foer
b
: lively in manner, effect, or appearance : jaunty
a perky pop song
drove a perky little sports car
… the wine's perky effervescence …Wine Enthusiast Magazine
c
: briskly self-assured : cocky
… off I went, perky as a peacock.Ellis Parker Butler
2
a
: sticking or standing up or out
dog breeds with perky ears
She was skinny and had a little perky nose.Asma Hasan
b
: not sagging : taut
… a surgical treatment that makes the buttocks perkier and rounder …Ellie Muir
c
: not limp or wilted : fresh
The blossoms are the perkiest when plucked straight out of your garden.Amisha Gurbani
perkily adverb
perkiness noun

Examples of perky in a Sentence

He hasn't been his perky self lately. She drove around in a perky little car.
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.
Copper prices should not be so perky at a time when the world’s economy is hardly surging, The Economist cautions. Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 24 Oct. 2025 Her perky protagonist notably navigated a romantic relationship with vampire Bill Compton and explored the roots of her own fairy ancestry. Matt Cabral, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Oct. 2025 Smith, who is a global ambassador for Dior Beauty, sat front row at the spring/summer 2026 womenswear show—alongside fellow ambassadors Anya Taylor-Joy and Blackpink's Jisoo—wearing head-to-toe Dior and a high, multi-layered updo that began with braids and ended in a perky pile of waves. Kara Nesvig, Allure, 1 Oct. 2025 McDermott skillfully deploys Valley Girl upspeak to ends both disturbingly perky and just straight disturbing. Sara Holdren, Vulture, 23 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for perky

Word History

First Known Use

1820, in the meaning defined at sense 1c

Time Traveler
The first known use of perky was in 1820

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Cite this Entry

“Perky.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perky. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.

Kids Definition

perky

adjective
perkier; perkiest
: being lively and cheerful
perkiness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on perky

Last Updated: - Definition revised
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