perk

¹

[ purk ]

verb (used without object)

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

   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 or out ):

   to perk up a suit with a new white blouse.

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

   to perk one's head up.

adjective

1. perky; jaunty:

   a perk manner.

perk

²

[ purk ]

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

[ purk ]

noun

, Informal.

1. perquisite.

perk

¹

/ pɜːk /

adjective

1. pert; brisk; lively

verb

1. See perk up
   See perk up

perk

²

/ pɜːk /

verb

1. intr (of coffee) to percolate
2. tr to percolate (coffee)

perk

³

/ pɜːk /

noun

1. See perquisite
   informal.
   short for perquisite

Other Words From

• perking·ly adverb
• perkish adjective

Word History and Origins

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of perk¹

C16: see perk up

Example Sentences

To do so, they are looking at how they can reward these new customers with exclusive discounts or perks, in addition to a better experience.

From Digiday

When the food truck finally arrives, they’ll perk up, growing and multiplying.

From Science News For Students

Listing closer to home—Ant is headquartered in Hangzhou, China—has its own perks.

From Fortune

This is an excerpt of Fortune Analytics data, an exclusive newsletter that Fortune Premium subscribers receive as a perk of their subscription.

From Fortune

Once considered a niche perk, the four-day work week is slowly but surely gaining traction in the United States.

From Quartz

It also included a perk—a tax exemption—for landlords who, like Mitchell, rent property to charter schools.

From The Daily Beast

Free underwear is apparently yet another perk of being a 27-year-old actress with your own television show.

From The Daily Beast

But there is a Friends-themed “Central Perk” novelty café operating in Beijing.

From The Daily Beast

The bozos who abuse the perk make for great copy, but they really aren't at all typical of the business jet community.

From The Daily Beast

Daniel Stone reports on whether the perk has gotten out of control.

From The Daily Beast

"Don't you fret any about that, Perk," answered Chub, with a wink at Penny as he lifted himself erect.

From Project Gutenberg

They perk up wonderfully as the barometer falls and the damp makes itself felt in their warm cases of glass.

From Project Gutenberg

Perk reappeared in a few moments pushing a wheelbarrow in which reposed a large crate.

From Project Gutenberg

Perk himself felt confident that they were as yet only on the threshold of still more important discoveries.

From Project Gutenberg

Shortly afterwards Perk picked up what seemed to be a low-lying light, this time off toward the east, where he knew the land lay.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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