perk up
Britishverb
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to make or become more cheerful, hopeful, or lively
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to rise or cause to rise briskly
the dog's ears perked up
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(tr) to make smarter in appearance
she perked up her outfit with a bright scarf
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slang (intr) to vomit
Etymology
Origin of perk up
C14 perk, perhaps from Norman French perquer; see perch 1
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.
It’s hard to see why conditions perk up from here, and the Fed isn’t about to ride to the rescue.
From Barron's • Mar. 6, 2026
A little lemon zest can perk up even the simplest of dishes, like scrambled eggs.
From Salon • Feb. 26, 2026
A program offering subsidies to buy household appliances and electric vehicles helped perk up spending earlier last year, but retail-sales momentum has since waned.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 14, 2026
"But I need to be able to handle all the feelings and then perk up and perform."
From BBC • Dec. 12, 2025
Usually when she came into his room, he’d perk up and run to her.
From "Flowers for Algernon" by Daniel Keyes
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.
