1
as in brightening
to become glad or hopeful
we perked up once the sun came out
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
-
Gerdes loves to work silver foliage plants like dusty miller (Jacobaea maritima) into containers, their light, shimmery leaves brightening up the garden.—
Miranda Crowell,
Better Homes & Gardens,
27 Oct. 2025 -
Chicken and rice is a satisfying choice for brightening anyone's day.—
Emma Ashe,
Southern Living,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In 2024, in first (partial) year in his new no-heavy-lifting sinecure, Lowy pocketed $351,050.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
7 Jan. 2026
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With the shot clock running down, Lopez swung the ball back to the other side, with Sanders waiting to retrieve it after lifting from the corner.—
Law Murray,
New York Times,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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That’s one investment that has proved rather unfruitful so far, although things appear to be looking up for WBD investors currently with company on the auction block and simultaneously preparing to separate its cable operations and studios/streaming into to companies.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
29 Oct. 2025
-
In the Instagram carousel, Travis shared a photo of Rocky — already taking inspiration from his dad in a rock tee shirt and green and white sweatpants — showing off his curiosity by looking up at a sign of what appeared to be a yeti.—
Hannah Sacks,
PEOPLE,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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It is measured in the millions of students striving for opportunity—most of them raising children, working jobs, serving in uniform, or making rent and mortgage payments with other bills competing for their attention.—
Yolanda Watson Spiva,
Fortune,
8 Nov. 2025
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One person might earn more while the other contributes in different but equally meaningful ways, like managing the home, raising kids and planning for the future.—
Annie Nova,
CNBC,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Glow-in-the-dark outsoles represent glowing engine headers, and the shoe’s color-shifting eggplant purple upper takes a page from custom car wraps.—
Riley Jones,
Footwear News,
7 Jan. 2026
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On Monday, the actress uploaded a new selfie showing off her glowing complexion.—
Hannah Malach,
InStyle,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Its foldable design with a snap closure keeps accessories organized, without taking up too much room in an everyday purse or carry-on bag.—
Isabel Garcia,
PEOPLE,
8 Nov. 2025
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Though once invited to appear in a film by Michelangelo Antonioni, travel restrictions of the era kept him from taking up the role.—
Annika Pham,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The responsibility of elevating figure skating.—
Marcus Thompson II,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
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Two of his followers were the parents of Kim Il Sung, and Cheng tracks how a family’s faith and American proselytizing became the roots of Kimilsungism, the ideology elevating the rulers of North Korea to a nearly deified state of veneration.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Jan. 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 9 Jan. 2026.
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