perches; perched; perching
1
: to sit on or be on something high or on something from which it is easy to fall
—usually + on
Birds often perch on the ledge outside my window.
People perched on the railing to get a better view.
Their house perches on a rocky cliff.
2
: to put (someone or something) on something high or on something from which it is easy to fall
People perched themselves on the railing [=people sat on the railing] to get a better view.
—usually used as (be) perchedHe stood there in his coat, a small hat perched on/atop his head.
A bird was perched on the telephone wire.
Their house is perched on a rocky cliff.
The castle is perched high in/among the hills of Scotland.
plural perches
1
: something (such as a tree branch) that a bird sits on
The bird flew down from its perch.
2
: a high seat or location
The lifeguard watches the swimmers from her perch.
plural perch or perches
: a fish that lives in rivers and streams and that is eaten as food
Cite this Entry
“Perch.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/perch. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
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