perk (up)

verb

ˈpərk How to pronounce perk (up) (audio)
Definition of perk (up)next
1
as in to brighten
to become glad or hopeful we perked up once the sun came out

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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)
  1. brighten
  2. lift
  3. raise
  4. elevate
Verb
  • Air molecules reflect and scatter light beyond an immediate beam, which is why the sky starts brightening at dawn even before the sun climbs above the horizon.
    — Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 14 July 2026
  • Detroit has also allowed a league-high 153 points through three weeks, further brightening Crawford’s outlook.
    — Juan Carlos Blanco, Forbes.com, 12 July 2026
Definition of brighten
Verb
  • Messi and Argentina lifted the World Cup trophy, the first in Messi’s storied career, but the Frenchman went home with the Golden Boot.
    — Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 14 July 2026
  • The elevator has to be repaired and reinspected in order for the cease-use order to be lifted.
    — Alice Gainer, CBS News, 13 July 2026
Definition of lift
Verb
  • Having one copy of the APOE4 variant may double or triple the chance of developing Alzheimer’s, while having two copies may raise risk by tenfold or more.
    — Sandee LaMotte, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
  • The Digital Realty proposal is the first project vying to get an exemption from Atlanta’s ban, raising questions about balancing urban land use and digital infrastructure.
    — Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 15 July 2026
Definition of raise
Verb
  • His stature as the greatest ever keeps rising, elevating, growing.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 16 July 2026
  • There’s just a better version lurking inside, one that could’ve elevated the action-chase genre instead of merely loitering there.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 15 July 2026
Definition of elevate
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.

Browse Nearby Words

perks (up)
perk (up)
perky
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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 16 Jul. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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