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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Amid the infinity pools and sleek van transfers, careful touches of Bohol culture abound at South Palms Resort & Spa Panglao, from bold, handcrafted textiles and reclaimed wood in the rooms to classic Filipino dishes and heritage ingredients, which brighten the food and beverage options.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Mar. 2026 -
Article continues below Since then, the comet has brightened some 600-fold to magnitude 11, bright enough to be readily detected in amateur telescopes of 8 to 10-inch aperture.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The war in Iran is lifting the fortunes of oil producers in Latin America who aren’t vulnerable to the Strait of Hormuz closure.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
12 Mar. 2026
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The addition of Crosby was supposed to be the piece to help lift the Ravens over the top, with the draft picks expected to be part of a rebuilding effort for the Raiders.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Moïse, who said she was born and raised in Haiti and had lived at the family home since 2015, described having as many as 30 to 50 guards around the home at all times.—
Tania Francois,
CBS News,
13 Mar. 2026
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Another audience member sensitively played Sam, the narrator’s love of his life, a relationship that reveals the long-term toll of being raised by a parent suffering from suicidal depression.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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This faux leather midi skirt is elegant and can be elevated with a crisp white shirt or cashmere cardigan.—
Alexandra Pereira,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Mar. 2026
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Wise’s essential deployment of tension is absent without the compressed grain that elevates it.—
Billie Bugara,
Pitchfork,
7 Mar. 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 13 Mar. 2026.
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