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

The sale of Baume & Mercier comes as Richemont’s specialist watch division has begun to perk up after an extended period of weak demand for luxury goods. —Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 22 Jan. 2026

Shares in the streaming giant perked up 1% in pre-market trading. —Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 20 Jan. 2026

Now, with around two months until release (after one major delay), things may be perking up. —Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026

Adding a wreath to your front door is the perfect way to perk up your home and embrace the icy beauty of winter. —Brittany Vanderbill, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Jan. 2026

Rhymes for perk up

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