perk
1 Americanverb (used without object)
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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.
-
to act, or carry oneself, in a jaunty manner.
-
to put oneself forward briskly or presumptuously.
verb (used with object)
-
to make smart, trim, or jaunty (sometimes followed by up orout ).
to perk up a suit with a new white blouse.
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to raise smartly or briskly (often followed by up orout ).
to perk one's head up.
adjective
verb (used with or without object)
noun
adjective
verb
verb
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(intr) (of coffee) to percolate
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(tr) to percolate (coffee)
noun
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The title certainly perked my ears up, as did the cast.
From Salon
Industry insiders say actors' demands also have a cascading effect, as stars seek to exceed each other's perks.
From Barron's
Roasted sweet potatoes perk up instantly with toasted pistachios.
From Salon
That’s because surveys that track pricing for the base or lowest fare don’t take into account the fact that travelers often pay for perks and extras beyond that bottom fare.
From MarketWatch
When the outlook for the economy perks up, banks see higher demand for financing and corporate transactions and money managers see higher assets under management because asset prices rise.
From Barron's
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
