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.

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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.

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perk ³ American  

[purk] / pɜrk /

Also perc

noun

Informal.

perks plural

1. perquisite.

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perk ¹ British  

/ pɜːk /

adjective

1. pert; brisk; lively

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verb

1. See perk up

perk ² British  

/ pɜːk /

verb

1. (intr) (of coffee) to percolate

2. (tr) to percolate (coffee)

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perk ³ British  

/ pɜːk /

noun

1. informal short for perquisite

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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

In total, 1,418 companies disclosed at least one perk during this time period.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 25, 2026

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

“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

I saw Beau perk his ears and look over, but I was too sick and too tired to notice the man through the window and how he was looking at me.

From "The Honest Truth" by Dan Gemeinhart

Credit cards with travel perks are great for banks and airlines.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026

“A lot of these perks are excessive,” said Rosanna Weaver, an executive-pay consultant for the Interfaith Center for Corporate Responsibility.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 25, 2026

Most executives “already are extraordinarily well paid, and I’m not persuaded that the perks are necessary. There’s a whiff of entitlement here—CEOs who say ‘I deserve this.’

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 25, 2026

Security topped the perks list by a large margin.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 25, 2026

With the mention of food, my mom perks up.

From "Love, Hate & Other Filters" by Samira Ahmed

Related Words

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