PERKED (UP) Synonyms: 60 Similar and Opposite Words

perked (up)

verb

past tense of perk (up)

as in brightened

to become glad or hopeful we perked up once the sun came out

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Around that time, the comet experienced a large outburst, which brightened it about 8,000 times.

— Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 12 Aug. 2026
My whole life, my father had brightened at the sight of me, laughed at my jokes, and advised my brother, three years younger, to follow my example.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of brightened

Verb

In the final of the 2014 edition, Germany lifted its fourth title after a 1-0 extra-time win against Lionel Messi's Argentina.

— ABC News, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026
Evacuation orders have been lifted for a wildfire that ignited east of Mountain Ranch in Calaveras County on Thursday, officials said.

— Brandon Downs, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of lifted

Verb

Growing up on a farm in Callicoon, New York, Keen looked up to his dad’s impressive career, but was more intrigued by his mom’s job at first.

— Giovana Gelhoren, InStyle, 15 Aug. 2026
This week's total solar eclipse captured the world's attention, and millions of skywatchers looked up (with the correct protective eyewear, hopefully) to experience the moon blocking out our star's light.

— Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of looked up

Verb

That sentiment illustrates a central tension raised by many of the actors who shared their stories with CNN.

— Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
Rights groups have raised concerns about the treatment of migrants and asylum seekers in Tunisia since the EU agreement, including reports of collective expulsions, racial violence, arbitrary detention and abuses against Black migrants.

— ABC News, ABC News, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of raised

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.

Browse Nearby Words

perk

perked (up)

perkily

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Perked (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perked%20%28up%29. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of perked (up)

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

expeditious

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

16 Glee-ridden Words from Schitt's Creek

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes