perky

adjective

ˈpər-kē 

perkier; perkiest

1

: briskly self-assured : cocky

2

: jaunty

a perky … waltz

—New Yorker

perkily

ˈpər-kə-lē 

adverb

perkiness

ˈpər-kē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• active
• airy
• animate
• animated
• bouncing
• brisk
• energetic
• frisky
• gay
• jaunty
• jazzy
• kinetic
• lively
• mettlesome
• peppy
• pert
• pizzazzy
• pizazzy
• racy
• snappy
• spanking
• sparky
• spirited
• sprightly
• springy
• vital
• vivacious
• zippy

Examples of perky in a Sentence

He hasn't been his perky self lately.

She drove around in a perky little car.

Recent Examples on the Web

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (2008) Circa 2008, even Adams’s vamps were perky. —Matthew Jacobs, Vulture, 6 Dec. 2024

Director Stephen Herek’s perky tale sticks to the seasonal entertainment recipe but sprinkles in dashes of humor and draws out exuberant performances from everyone in the cast. —Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 29 Nov. 2024

Emulating the leading ladies with perky pinky garb like Grande, who plays Glinda, and green-tinged skin like Erivo, who stars as Elphaba, are the more obvious options to dress for the occasion. —Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 28 Nov. 2024

Toothless the dragon’s scales are shined, his wings are perky, and his eyes are big and green and expressive. —Michael Savio, Vulture, 20 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1820, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

perky

adjective

ˈpər-kē 

perkier; perkiest

: being lively and cheerful

perkiness noun