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
-
The sleek and simple decor brightens each room, and floor-to-ceiling windows frame views of the water.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 May 2026 -
Queen Camilla brightened her wardrobe in a springtime Fiona Clare blue dress for a garden party at Hillsborough Castle on Wednesday in Hillsborough, Northern Ireland.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
As captain, Poulin got the 35-pound Walter Cup first, lifting it over her head as confetti exploded around her.—
Hailey Salvian,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
-
But what if the embargo gets lifted tomorrow?—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
That alone, to me, raises questions.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2026
-
The governing body said the show would support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which is raising $100 million to help children access education and soccer.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Carragher acknowledged that Slot’s achievement in winning the Premier League in his first campaign elevated him to a level above what fellow Dutchman Ten Hag achieved in just over two years as Manchester United manager following his summer 2022 appointment, but the point stood.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
-
This matching set gives a sporty-chic vibe, thanks to contrast stripes along the sleeves, adding just enough detail to elevate it beyond your standard loungewear.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
16 May 2026
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.
Cite this Entry
“Perk (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perk%20%28up%29. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
