1
as in to brighten
to become glad or hopeful
we perked up once the sun came out
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to lift
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 perk (up)
Verb
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Understanding which bird species react to changes in light could be key as the world brightens due to the increasing presence of artificial light.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
13 Oct. 2025 -
Writers need time to get to know their stars’ strengths, even if those stars have been brightening our screens for decades.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The fragrance opens with this bright, fizzy combination of raspberry, orange flower, and mandarin that immediately lifts your mood.—
Kimberly Wilson,
Essence,
10 Oct. 2025
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Eight, maybe nine years removed from swiping worms from the corner store and lifting loose change from cars in the mall parking lot.—
Allen Iverson,
Rolling Stone,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In November, Jackson terminated Gatlin for swindling millions of dollars from the Foundation as executives privately reeled over her betrayal of the hospital system’s fundraising arm, which raises tens of millions to benefit Jackson’s patients.—
Michelle Marchante,
Miami Herald,
12 Oct. 2025
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Experts at Sweetbriar said the effort was not just about saving one insect but also about raising awareness.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
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After the Browns traded veteran quarterback Joe Flacco to the Cincinnati Bengals earlier this week, fans and pundits speculated whether Sanders would even be elevated to the second-string job, or remain in the third-string role behind Bailey Zappe.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
11 Oct. 2025
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Trocheck was elevated to alternate status after taking on many captain duties without the formal title last season, enshrining the Pittsburgh youth hockey legends as the leading voices in New York’s locker room.—
Vincent Z. Mercogliano,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Perk (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perk%20%28up%29. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.
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