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
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The key window is April 10-20, when the comet is brightening but not yet too deeply embedded in the sun's glare.—
Jamie Carter,
Space.com,
10 Apr. 2026 -
Ferulic acid boosts that brightening trio, while niacinamide and tangerine peel extract help even things out over time.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Both companies must also learn to operate in lunar orbit, and master landing their vehicles on the Moon and then subsequently lifting them off from the lunar surface.—
Eric Berger,
ArsTechnica,
11 Apr. 2026
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Hopes for lifting the ban rose after Lee and Xi met twice.—
Ken Moritsugu,
Fortune,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The duo were in attendance for Justin Bieber’s April 11 headlining set, with Perry posting a video on social media in real time with her reaction to Bieber looking up YouTube videos on stage and singing along to them.—
Zack Sharf,
Variety,
13 Apr. 2026
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Students might consider this a case of simply looking up information—which a majority of them rate as the most helpful and acceptable use of LLMs in surveys—but typing a question and relaying the response is not the same as thinking about it.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But critics argue lawmakers merely shifted money around while leaving deeper tax, spending and cost-of-living pressures for the next administration, raising a bigger accountability question for voters this fall.—
Baltimore Sun staff,
Baltimore Sun,
16 Apr. 2026
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If passed, the bill would refer a question to the ballot asking voters whether to invest more in K-12 education -- specifically for teacher pay and retention, smaller class sizes, and expanded career and technical education -- without raising taxes.—
Shaun Boyd,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Auroras are typically easiest to see after full darkness sets in and before dawn, when the sky is darkest and solar particles interacting with Earth's magnetic field create glowing arcs and shimmering curtains of light.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
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Their evident fondness for one another, glowing warmly alongside all their sniping and whispering and eye-rolling, allows all the nightmares in Big Mistakes to feel like a lark rather than an incipient calamity.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Bishop famously pivoted from studying physics at the University of Chicago on a scholarship to taking up the blues and joining the Paul Butterfield Blues Band.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
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Other examples can be seen in the deliberate way Flick sprung to Raphinha’s defence back in December, taking up the topic of the Brazilian’s lack of individual recognition despite not having been asked about it.—
Laia Cervelló Herrero,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Or, for your next airport outfit, opt for a drapey button-down, buttery-soft joggers, and a roomy crossbody bag that keeps your essentials close while elevating your entire look.—
Julia Morlino,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Apr. 2026
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She is known for elevating cutting-edge artists that many others deemed too challenging to show, and forintroducing US audiences to the work of European artists including Richter, Joseph Beuys, Marcel Broodthaers, Pierre Huyghe, and Anselm Kiefer.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
10 Apr. 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 19 Apr. 2026.
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