1
as in brightening
to become glad or hopeful
we perked up once the sun came out
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in lifting
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 perking (up)
Verb
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Other ingredients to look for include SPF, present in Supergoop’s formula, and vitamin C, a brightening agent that’s whipped into Nerrā’s dry oil.—
Jenny Berg,
Vogue,
27 May 2026 -
Grab it in brightening pink or yellow shades, or go with the transparent option for a more flexible finish.—
Olivia Cigliano,
InStyle,
22 May 2026
Verb
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Japan has recently taken steps to expand its defense posture, including lifting its ban on lethal arms exports and mulling changes to Article 9 of its constitution, which renounces war and the maintenance of armed forces.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
31 May 2026
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Aside from these new big punchers, the new space age is seeing a plethora of new companies seeking to cut themselves a slice of the market for lifting small payloads, often in multi-satellite deployments, into low Earth orbit.—
David Szondy
May 31,
New Atlas,
31 May 2026
Verb
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There won't be any disappearing act for those looking up elsewhere in the world, with Antares constantly visible alongside the full moon.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 May 2026
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Good times for the place have come and gone under various ownerships in the years since, and things are now looking up once more.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 May 2026
Verb
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With the rebuilding ongoing Hart said Saturday’s gala is not just about raising funds, but also awareness.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
4 June 2026
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Walking is exercise proven to help ward off anxiety, depression, dementia and Alzheimer’s, while improving self-esteem and raising dopamine levels.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
4 June 2026
Verb
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For glowing skin, get the plumping thirst relief facial, which involves a nori algae mask and organic marine products only found at Shangri-La Boracay.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
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From its glowing critical reception to its significant awards recognition, the series resonated with UK audiences in a way that felt truly profound.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
1 June 2026
Verb
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Glasner’s two main assistant coaches, Michael Angerschmid and Ronald Brunmayr, had long since been responsible for set pieces but, earlier this year, that responsibility was shifted to Paddy McCarthy with greater success, resulting in the Irishman taking up the duties full time.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
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While Elliott became the cast’s newest addition, Demi Moore was foregrounded as a major player, with her character Cami Miller taking up the mantle of MTEX CEO following her husband’s sudden death in Season 1.—
Kai Naima Williams,
Variety,
27 May 2026
Verb
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The rooms Recent renovations have been completed in all the rooms, elevating their stature with subtle colors and chic furnishings.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
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From cat-eye beauties to throwback, oversized statement makers, these glasses will take you from parade float to bar crawl in style (while elevating your ensembles year-round).—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
1 June 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Perking (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perking%20%28up%29. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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