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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Looking for a low-commitment way to brighten up your hair for spring?—
Grace McCarty,
Glamour,
4 Feb. 2026 -
In the bedroom, rather than doing their best to brighten up the room, which is small and has only one window, Adams and Tolles leaned into the room’s cavernous energy and painted it dark blue.—
Lina Abascal,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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OpenAI is reportedly eyeing a valuation at over $800 billion, and Google parent Alphabet has seen its stock soar over 60% in the past year, lifting its market cap to $4 trillion.—
Jordan Novet,
CNBC,
5 Feb. 2026
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The couple who followed them—two shirtless men, around the same height, alternately lifting each other up and rolling over each other with playful, affectionate aggression—struck me as equally political, suggesting not just what was banned but what was possible.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The health care company also raised its forecast range for profit this fiscal year.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Feb. 2026
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In the wake of Bad Bunny's halftime show selection in September, many critics raised concerns about a potential language barrier for English-language viewers.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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As Audience Director at Hearst’s award-winning Austin American-Statesman, Robbie partners with editors and reporters to elevate local coverage and expand readership.—
Robbie Farias,
Austin American Statesman,
7 Feb. 2026
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These digital watches are a fun way to add a casual, cool aesthetic to your wrist and elevate any outfit.—
John Monaco,
InStyle,
7 Feb. 2026
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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 11 Feb. 2026.
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