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.

---

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.

---

perk ³ American  

[purk] / pɜrk /

Also perc

noun

Informal.

• perks
  plural

1. perquisite.

---

perk ¹ British  

/ pɜːk /

adjective

1. pert; brisk; lively

---

verb

1. See perk up

perk ² British  

/ pɜːk /

verb

1. (intr) (of coffee) to percolate

2. (tr) to percolate (coffee)

---

perk ³ British  

/ pɜːk /

noun

1. informal short for perquisite

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• perkish
  adjective
• perkingly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• perks
  plural

---

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

---

Explanation

A perk is something extra you get, in addition to a salary, in exchange for working. The major perk of your job at an ice cream shop might be all the hot fudge sundaes you can eat. Some fairly common job perks include health insurance, free gym memberships, and company cars. You can also talk about the perks, or benefits, of a situation: "I have to ride to school with my annoying neighbor, but the perk is she always brings donuts." As a verb, perk means "to become more energetic or cheerful." So that donut perk? It might be just the thing to perk you up on a Monday morning.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

perk perks

Producers could unleash this supply as soon as temperatures drop and prices perk up, ultimately swamping markets and adding downward pressure to prices, energy trading firm EBW Analytics Group warned clients.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026

Some tech startups offer free pouches as an employee perk to boost productivity.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026

But you should only consider that a genuine perk if you meet that requirement through your normal spending.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 29, 2026

And speaking of Dodger Stadium, the No. 2 playoff seed carries another important perk: the home-field advantage for the Division Series — and possibly the World Series, if the Dodgers make it that far.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026

Sandy June’s had showers for the camping area, which was also an employee perk, so I officially had a right.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

A 70-year-old has discovered one of the most delectable perks of retirement: invitations to sumptuous meals, gratis.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 4, 2026

Meanwhile, employers are also paying more for employee perks.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 30, 2026

Is home-working under threat from the perks of office life?

From BBC ● Oct. 28, 2026

Banks have also been tightening up rules for customers who might try to milk perks in less aggressive ways.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 25, 2026

Anonymity was one of the major perks of the OASIS.

From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---

Related Words

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

---