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• pep
  pep

  noun

  lively spirits or energy; vigor; animation.
• PEP
  PEP

  acronym

  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

pep

American  

[pep] / pɛp /

noun

1. lively spirits or energy; vigor; animation.

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verb phrase

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

   We need something to pep up this party.

PEP ¹ British  

/ 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

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abbreviation

1. political and economic planning

pep ² British  

/ pɛp /

noun

1. high spirits, energy, or vitality

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verb

1. to liven by imbuing with new vigour

Other Word Forms

• pepful
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of pep

First recorded in 1840–50; short for pepper

Explanation

Pep is a high spirited kind of energy. It takes a lot of pep (and pom-poms) to be a cheerleader. Watching a school play in which the actors are full of pep is a lot more fun than seeing lethargic performers halfheartedly go through the motions. After a good night's sleep and a cup of tea, you might have plenty of pep to start your day — but it might take your older sister longer to truly wake up. Pep first appeared in 1912, as a shortened form of pepper, which once meant "moxie" or "gusto."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

pep PEP

As he left, Turner gave a brief faith-laced pep talk for a group of young Dream Center residents in the audience.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026

I’m back from a matrimonial break with a pep in my step and a shiny new ring on my finger.

From Slate ● Aug. 5, 2026

The last pep rally, where children blew red vuvuzelas.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 1, 2026

A pep talk from the great Travis Kelce was just a tiny part.

From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026

Cap’s injury had sucked all the pep out of this rally.

From "Schooled" by Gordon Korman

Another new law will enhance access to drugs known as PrEP and PEP, which are aimed at preventing HIV.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 27, 2026

PepsiCo PEP 1.53%increase; green up pointing triangle pulled its sponsorship of a planned London music festival that booked Kanye West as the headline performer.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 5, 2026

This year, a federally-funded study will be launched to test the effect of doxy PEP in people assigned female at birth, so more data should be forthcoming.

From Salon ● Jan. 17, 2025

Officials call the treatment doxy PEP, short for doxycycline postexposure prophylaxis.

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 4, 2024

When Colonel Hunter wrote PEP in 1914 and offered it to The Reilly & Britton Company, we immediately accepted the manuscript for publication.

From Think A Book for To-day by Col. Wm. C. Hunter

Related Words

• gusto
• starch
• verve