pep

[pep]

noun

1. lively spirits or energy; vigor; animation.

verb phrase

1. pep up,  to make or become spirited, vigorous, or lively; animate.

   We need something to pep up this party.

PEP

¹

/ pɛp /

acronym

1. personal equity plan: a method of saving in the U.K. with certain tax advantages, in which investments up to a fixed annual value can be purchased: replaced by the ISA in 1999 but arrangements for existing PEPs remain unchanged

abbreviation

1. political and economic planning

pep

²

/ pɛp /

noun

1. high spirits, energy, or vitality

verb

1. to liven by imbuing with new vigour

Other Word Forms

• pepful adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pep¹

First recorded in 1840–50; short for pepper

Word History and Origins

Origin of pep¹

C20: short for _pepper

Example Sentences

Penelope was glad to see Mrs. Clarke so full of pep, but she wished the housekeeper had paused to answer her question.

Read more on Literature

It was one of the new shiny red Bloomer engines, a flashy piece of engineering and full of pep, too.

Read more on Literature

At one point, Nicholas had to give his bees a pep talk to for another on-camera appearance.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Except for a brief mention of a pep talk he gave Lynn Nottage, Shepard seems almost entirely divorced from the theater community.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

So Long marched with the Golden Band from Tigerland and stormed into the locker room at halftime to give the team pep talks.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• gusto 
• starch 
• verve