perky

[ pur-kee ]

/ ˈpɜr ki /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR perky ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective, perk·i·er, perk·i·est.

jaunty; cheerful; brisk; pert.

Nearby words

perkin, perkin's mauve, perkin, sir william henry, perkins, perkins, frances, perky, perl, perle, perle cotton, perlea, perlemoen

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. 2019

Examples from the Web for perky

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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
Swift hopes that playing the victim, the perky sponge of “hate,” sells.
Why We Should Hate 'Haters Gonna Hate'|Tim Teeman|August 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST

They aren't young, perky, perfect, faithful or especially apologetic about it.
The Many Faces of Toni Collette|Rebecca Dana|March 21, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Don't you get too perky, young feller, or I'll hang your shirt on the fence before the day's done.
Corporal Cameron|Ralph Connor
Warships, big and little, were there in squadrons; but gaunt super-Dreadnought and perky destroyer alike was aggressively British.
The Day of Wrath|Louis Tracy
The perky little launch shoved up close to the side of the tall steamer.
Ruth Fielding Down in Dixie|Alice B. Emerson
Then the fair, perky boy who made good clothes look cheap also came up.
The Story of Louie|Oliver Onions
Well, Steve and Andy was perky as blackbirds in a strawyard that spring.
The Heart of Canyon Pass|Thomas K. Holmes

British Dictionary definitions for perky

perky

/ (ˈpɜːkɪ) /

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

perky

adjective, perk·i·er, perk·i·est.

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Nearby words

Origin of perky

Examples from the Web for perky

British Dictionary definitions for perky

perky

adjective perkier or perkiest