perk

¹ American  

[purk] / pɜrk /

verb (used without object)

1. to become lively, cheerful, or vigorous, as after depression or sickness (usually followed byup ).

   The patients all perked up when we played the piano for them.

2. to act, or carry oneself, in a jaunty manner.

3. to put oneself forward briskly or presumptuously.

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verb (used with object)

1. to make smart, trim, or jaunty (sometimes followed by up orout ).

   to perk up a suit with a new white blouse.

2. to raise smartly or briskly (often followed by up orout ).

   to perk one's head up.

adjective

1. perky; jaunty.

   a perk manner.

perk ² American  

[purk] / pɜrk /

verb (used with or without object)

Informal.

1. to percolate.

   Has the coffee perked yet? The research team is perking with new ideas.

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perk ³ American  

[purk] / pɜrk /

Also perc

noun

Informal.

1. perquisite.

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perk ¹ British  

/ pɜːk /

adjective

1. pert; brisk; lively

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verb

1. See perk up

perk ² British  

/ pɜːk /

verb

1. (intr) (of coffee) to percolate

2. (tr) to percolate (coffee)

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perk ³ British  

/ pɜːk /

noun

1. informal short for perquisite

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Other Word Forms

• perkingly adverb
• perkish adjective

Etymology

Origin of perk¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English perken “(of a bird) to perch on a tree”; akin to perch ¹

Origin of perk²

An Americanism dating back to 1920–25; by shortening and respelling

Origin of perk³

First recorded in 1865–70; by shortening and respelling

Example Sentences

Or, in the case of credit cards, they mesmerize you with the many glamorous perks you can acquire, failing to note the debt you may accrue in the process.

From Salon

Some branded gas credit cards, like the BP Rewards Visa, the Exxon Mobil Smart Card+ and the Shell Fuel Rewards Card, may offer discounts at the pump and perks like cash back at convenience stores.

From MarketWatch

Now, low-frills flying pioneer Southwest Airlines LUV -3.57%decrease; red down pointing triangle , and low-cost carriers like Spirit and Frontier are adding seats that give passengers perks like a few extra inches of leg space.

From The Wall Street Journal

Unlike Delta, which bombards premium travelers with what-to-expect emails ahead of their flight, JetBlue was notably silent about its Mint perks after I booked in mid-February.

From The Wall Street Journal

Demand has since perked up slightly, with the current going rate on the secondary market for a “Girl” hovering around $1 million, he said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• advantage
• bonus
• dividend
• extra
• fringe benefit
• gratuity
• perquisite