1
as in brightened
to become glad or hopeful
we perked up once the sun came out
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in lifted
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 perked (up)
Verb
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By all indications, the first full day at the San Diego International Airport’s new Terminal 1 went without a hitch Tuesday, with smooth check-in and security zones, bustling concession stands, speedy baggage claim and airy spaces that brightened the moods of travelers.—
Roxana Popescu,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Sep. 2025 -
In Pynchon’s best works, his bleakness is brightened, in both senses—illuminated and made lighter—by the sweep of his vision and his affection for his fallible, foolhardy, well-meaning, wildly outmatched main characters.—
Kathryn Schulz,
New Yorker,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The initial launch will aim for speeds near Mach 2, but project officials say later versions could reach Mach 4 or even Mach 5, the lower edge of true hypersonic velocity, once range restrictions are lifted.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Sep. 2025
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Near the climax of the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics—a living diorama of British history, directed by the filmmaker Danny Boyle—a model house was lifted away to reveal Berners-Lee.—
Julian Lucas,
New Yorker,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The scale is staggering, even for a company that’s raised a record amount of private market cash and seen its valuation swell to $500 billion.—
MacKenzie Sigalos,
CNBC,
24 Sep. 2025
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The discovery renews scrutiny of Bolton’s handling of sensitive national security information and echoes long-standing concerns first raised during a contentious legal battle over his 2020 memoir.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The 22-year-old, born in Muskegon, Michigan, was looked up to by younger kids in his family.—
Jade Jackson,
IndyStar,
24 Sep. 2025
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Percy looked up at the camera, shyly posing with his new look.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
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As a member of the practice squad, Chisena can be elevated to the game-day roster three times before being added to the 53-man roster.—
Mike Kaye,
Charlotte Observer,
23 Sep. 2025
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Players can be elevated only three teams by a team in one season.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
22 Sep. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Perked (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perked%20%28up%29. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.
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