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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Meanwhile, economic attitudes among young voters have brightened slightly, though dissatisfaction remains high.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025 -
Add the peppers and saute until brightened in color, about 2 minutes.—
Lynda Balslev,
Mercury News,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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On the surface, Çiftlik Bank—Turkish for Farm Bank—was little more than a FarmVille rip-off; the functionality for tending to digital crops and livestock was lifted more or less straight from their competitor.—
Moisés Naím,
Literary Hub,
27 Oct. 2025
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The crowd can get so tight that people are lifted off the ground beneath them.—
Ari Daniel,
NPR,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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During the president’s first term in office, his officials raised alarms about Beijing’s growing technological prowess, its military buildup, and its dominance over the critical minerals industry.—
Mira Rapp-Hooper,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Oct. 2025
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This week, faced with the prospect of losing SNAP assistance and the stress of the holidays around the corner, Gabrielle, a West Virginia resident, reluctantly raised her hand in a community Facebook group.—
Alisha Ebrahimji,
CNN Money,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Sundae looked up at the photo on the wall, at Holly Jolly, smiling without shark teeth, sprig of holly glinting on his lapel.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
PEOPLE,
24 Oct. 2025
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Bompastor’s lack of reaction was telling — as referee Michalina Diakow pointed to the spot, the head coach barely looked up from her fervent conversation with Erin Cuthbert on the touchline.—
Cerys Jones,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The values Homer elevated, especially those of male honor and female duplicity, established parameters for the war story (and not only the war story) for centuries to come.—
Elizabeth D. Samet,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Oct. 2025
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Wright was signed to the Commanders' practice squad and immediately elevated to the active roster alongside defensive tackle Sheldon Day.—
Matt Audilet,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Oct. 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 1 Nov. 2025.
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