perky

[pur-kee]

See more synonyms for perky on Thesaurus.com

adjective, perk·i·er, perk·i·est.

jaunty; cheerful; brisk; pert.

Origin of perky

First recorded in 1850–55; perk¹ + -y¹

Related formsperk·i·ly, adverbperk·i·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for perky

Contemporary Examples

She was a perky redhead of about 30 with lively blue eyes, a petite figure, and lots of nerve.
Gay Talese on Charlie Manson’s Home on the Range
Gay Talese
October 31, 2014
And beware the perky morning anchors with their inane questions (Aretha Franklin).
Ariana Grande, This Is How to Be a Diva
Tim Teeman
October 21, 2014
Swift hopes that playing the victim, the perky sponge of “hate,” sells.
Why We Should Hate 'Haters Gonna Hate'
Tim Teeman
August 25, 2014
Feminist pioneer Marlo Thomas, who played the perky and prototypical good girl Ann Marie on That Girl, wants you to be yourself.
Marlo Thomas Says Girls Should Feel Free to Be Like Hannah Horvath
Emily Shire
April 24, 2014
They aren't young, perky, perfect, faithful or especially apologetic about it.
The Many Faces of Toni Collette
Rebecca Dana
March 21, 2010

Historical Examples

She was so small and perky and so absurdly able to take care of herself.
Jill the Reckless
P. G. (Pelham Grenville) Wodehouse
They taught the perky boy that he was not everything, and the limp boy that he might be something.
The Longest Journey
E. M. Forster
I know you, Perky; and you needn't try any tricks on me or it'll be the worse for you.
Blacksheep! Blacksheep!
Meredith Nicholson
But Perky wired the Governor that he thought he was being watched?
Blacksheep! Blacksheep!
Meredith Nicholson
Perky seized the rockets and touched one after the other to the flames of the bonfire.
Blacksheep! Blacksheep!
Meredith Nicholson

British Dictionary definitions for perky

perky

adjective perkier or perkiest

jaunty; lively
confident; spirited

Derived Formsperkily, adverbperkiness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for perky

adj.

1820, from perk (v.) + -y (2). Of young women's breasts since at least 1937. Related: Perkily; perkiness.

perky

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}perky

Examples from the Web for perky

Contemporary Examples

She was a perky redhead of about 30 with lively blue eyes, a petite figure, and lots of nerve.

And beware the perky morning anchors with their inane questions (Aretha Franklin).

Swift hopes that playing the victim, the perky sponge of “hate,” sells.

Feminist pioneer Marlo Thomas, who played the perky and prototypical good girl Ann Marie on That Girl, wants you to be yourself.

They aren't young, perky, perfect, faithful or especially apologetic about it.

Historical Examples

She was so small and perky and so absurdly able to take care of herself.

They taught the perky boy that he was not everything, and the limp boy that he might be something.

I know you, Perky; and you needn't try any tricks on me or it'll be the worse for you.

But Perky wired the Governor that he thought he was being watched?

Perky seized the rockets and touched one after the other to the flames of the bonfire.

perky

Word Origin and History for perky

adj.

Origin of perky