perk up
Britishverb
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to make or become more cheerful, hopeful, or lively
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to rise or cause to rise briskly
the dog's ears perked up
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(tr) to make smarter in appearance
she perked up her outfit with a bright scarf
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slang (intr) to vomit
Etymology
Origin of perk up
C14 perk, perhaps from Norman French perquer; see perch 1
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.
That might seem like good news to those of us who have had to choke down hotel-room coffee to perk up after a grueling travel day.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026
Roasted sweet potatoes perk up instantly with toasted pistachios.
From Salon • Dec. 20, 2025
"But I need to be able to handle all the feelings and then perk up and perform."
From BBC • Dec. 12, 2025
He expects home sales to perk up as mortgage rates drop.
From MarketWatch • Oct. 23, 2025
His ears perk up, and his tongue lolls out of the corner of his mouth as he watches me leave.
From "I Can Make This Promise" by Christine Day
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.
