1
as in to brighten
to become glad or hopeful
we perked up once the sun came out
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to lift
to move from a lower to a higher place or position
the dog tilts her head and perks up her ears whenever someone speaks to her
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perk (up)
Verb
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How to Eat To brighten up your winter menu, make a tropical-fruit juice salad with kiwi.—
Kirsten Nunez,
Martha Stewart,
7 Jan. 2026 -
An InStyle writer swears by the Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Concealer for brightening her dark under-eye circles and acne marks.—
Melony Forcier,
InStyle,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Expedia lifted its forecast for full-year revenue growth sharply, thanks in part to 26% quarterly growth in the business-to-business travel division that Gorin ran before becoming CEO.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
7 Nov. 2025
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The plane, an MD-11, lifted off the runway and gained enough altitude to clear a fence at the end of the runway, Inman said during a previous news conference.—
Ray Padilla,
Louisville Courier Journal,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Someone who is unable to work in mainstream punditry because his face no longer fits, but is determined to raise standards among those who do as an outside agitator.—
Greg O'Keeffe,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
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Yet Tapestry—the parent company of Coach—said Gen Z now accounts for roughly 35% of its new customers, helping the brand beat Wall Street expectations and raise its full-year forecast.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
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All of the adults in the study had elevated LDL cholesterol levels despite being on a stable course of lipid-lowering therapy like statins for 30 days or more.—
Jacqueline Howard,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
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Professional interior designers will often turn to HomeGoods in search of affordable yet stylish finds that will elevate any room.—
Sarah Lyon,
Southern Living,
8 Nov. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Perk (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perk%20%28up%29. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
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