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

Despite a couple of funky skips, the album is fueled by the hunger of an artist who really wants the pop life again, perking up electro-scuzz and arena rock with new wave that gleams like glitter. —Pitchfork, 4 Dec. 2025

The plot is warm-blanket-comforting stuff, but the leads are delightful and the situations — a holiday escape room, a Christmas costume party — can perk up a bad mood. —Randy Myers, Mercury News, 26 Nov. 2025

Fresh rosemary, cranberry, ginger, and orange all exude autumnal energy and can perk up the base beverage. —Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Nov. 2025

Fubo shares, which continue to trade on the New York Stock Exchange, perked up a fraction on the earnings news. —Dade Hayes, Deadline, 3 Nov. 2025

Rhymes for perk up

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