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.
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to put oneself forward briskly or presumptuously.
verb (used with object)
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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
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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.
Vocabulary lists containing perk
"Where I'm From"
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Selection Vocabulary 3, Unit 5
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poems about voices of modern culture
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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.
See Examples For:
HP said the payment helps ensure its CEO is available to run the company during a power outage at his residence, and it disclosed the perk in accordance with regulatory requirements.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 25, 2026
The executive dining room remains a disclosed perk at a few companies.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 25, 2026
“When a cluster is big enough everybody’s ears perk up, communication starts,” and multiple avenues of investigation begin, Stevens said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026
McGrail used the perk to take two weeks off work to help her father, who has developed dementia, transition back home after spending time in a rehabilitation center following a bad fall.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 7, 2026
“Just a little redecorating to perk the place up,” she’d say.
From "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls
Lines and wait lists are far too common, and perks like guest access are shrinking or have gone away.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026
For the executives themselves, returning to the corner office often holds appeal, allowing them to dig into new business problems—while enjoying the perks and power of running a large company again.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
The Wall Street Journal analyzed perks disclosed in the most recent annual filings from 1,500 of the largest U.S. public companies.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 25, 2026
Her overseas posting and relocation were smoothed by $1.2 million in perks, covering housing-related costs, lease termination, tuition, tax prep and other benefits.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 25, 2026
These perks act as multipliers, a doubling or tripling down on an already overflowing basket of advantages: the parents’ good genes, the family’s wealth and status, the leafy neighborhood within the excellent school district.
From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove
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.
