perking (up)

verb

present participle of perk (up)
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)
  1. brightening
  2. lifting
  3. looking up
  4. raising
  5. glowing
  6. taking up
  7. elevating
Verb
  • Even with their fortunes brightening in Michigan, Republicans are clear-eyed about the headwinds this year.
    — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Made with a peptide complex and vitamin E, the patches reduce lines and wrinkles while plumping and brightening your skin.
    — Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 25 July 2026
Definition of brightening
Verb
  • Citrini Research’s February note imagined agents lifting output per hour to rates unseen since the 1950s while employment and demand collapse.
    — Josipa Majic Predin, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The commission was worried that lifting the ban would undo what had been accomplished.
    — Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of lifting
Verb
  • Trend-right product across the portfolio lifted Steve Madden‘s second quarter earnings, and things are looking up for the rest of the year.
    — Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 30 July 2026
  • Keegan would be appointed in September 1997 as chief operating officer, with Fulham a mid-table side in the old Second Division, looking up at Northampton Town and Bristol Rovers.
    — James Pearce, New York Times, 22 July 2026
Definition of looking up
Verb
  • But trying to get tanner through more UV light exposure can bring lot of dark, dark risks—such as damaging your skin and in the process raising your risk of skin cancer.
    — Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials say Russia is augmenting its arsenal with North Korean ballistic missiles, further raising the threat.
    — Nathan Hodge, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of raising
Verb
  • Creators who attended OpenAI’s first-ever influencer brand trip at a luxury resort in upstate New York posted glowing reviews of their private cabins, nature excursions and farm-to-table meals.
    — Angela Yang, NBC news, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The Perseids are particularly fast and often leave persistent glowing trails.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of glowing
Verb
  • Sort the list, prep the meal, or handle the task that has been quietly taking up brain space.
    — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 8 Aug. 2026
  • This is supportive energy for closure, rest, or releasing a feeling that has been taking up too much room behind the scenes.
    — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of taking up
Verb
  • Such bold tax reforms, mirroring Ireland's economic boom, could ignite rapid GDP growth, elevating El Salvador's economic standing beyond its current mediocrity.
    — Nathan Lewis, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Washington Examiner chief political correspondent Byron York said people like Hasan Piker are elevating campaigns for candidates like Wisconsin Democratic gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong.
    — Britta Miller, The Washington Examiner, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of elevating
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

perkiness
perking (up)
perks
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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 Aug. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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