perk up
phrasal verb
perked up; perking up; perks up
informal
1
: to become more lively or cheerful or to make (someone) more lively or cheerful
We perked up when we heard the good news.
The good news perked everyone up.
2
: to make (something) fresher or more appealing
The new paint job really perked up the room.
3
chiefly US, of an animal's ears
: to be lifted in a quick and alert way
The dog's ears perked up.
—often used figuratively of a personMy ears perked up when I heard my name mentioned.
Examples of perk up in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Billy, a French poodle who lives in the penthouse in my apartment building, enjoys watching CNN, falling asleep during the lengthy commercials, but perking up again for the news.
—
Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 4 Apr. 2025
Final Thoughts: Staging As A Market Strategy The Manhattan market is beginning to perk up after a few quiet years, but buyers are as picky as ever.
—John Walkup, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
Once the lettuce perks up, give it a spin in the salad spinner to remove excess moisture.
—Alyssa Sybertz, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2025
The movie perks up when Michael Keaton and Eva Green arrive as a ruthless impresario and his sensitive acrobat girlfriend, and Burton envisions his obvious Disneyland analog as a capitalist hellscape.
—Josh Bell, Vulture, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for perk up
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Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 4 Apr. 2025
Final Thoughts: Staging As A Market Strategy The Manhattan market is beginning to perk up after a few quiet years, but buyers are as picky as ever.
—John Walkup, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
Once the lettuce perks up, give it a spin in the salad spinner to remove excess moisture.
—Alyssa Sybertz, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2025
The movie perks up when Michael Keaton and Eva Green arrive as a ruthless impresario and his sensitive acrobat girlfriend, and Burton envisions his obvious Disneyland analog as a capitalist hellscape.
—Josh Bell, Vulture, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for perk up
Cite this Entry
“Perk up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perk%20up. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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