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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

PepsiCo PEP -0.43%decrease; red down pointing triangle just pulled off something rare in the food industry: It got consumers to come back.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026

PepsiCo PEP 0.42%increase; green up pointing triangle struck an agreement with activist investor Elliott Investment Management, committing to cut costs across the company and lower prices in its slowing food business.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 8, 2025

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

Read the first few chapters of "PEP," particularly the chapter in the book about solitude and sizing up things.

From Evening Round Up More Good Stuff Like Pep by Hunter, William Crosbie

Related Words

• gusto
• starch
• verve