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
Every bagpipe performance starts with a squawking rev-up, in which the bag fills with air, the drones perk up with inhuman attention, like rabbit ears, and the sounds coalesce in tune and begin to announce themselves.
—
Elena Saavedra Buckley, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2025
The South Texas native perks up Japanese sea bream (madai) with salsa verde and dots ceviche with cotija cheese and winks of serrano pepper, culinary moves that feel natural and not forced.
—Matthew Odam, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
Affected children don’t perk up, even after ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
—Erika Edwards, NBC news, 30 July 2025
When the streaming wars began around the early 2010s, the music business perked up.
—Jeff Rabhan, HollywoodReporter, 16 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for perk up
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Elena Saavedra Buckley, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2025
The South Texas native perks up Japanese sea bream (madai) with salsa verde and dots ceviche with cotija cheese and winks of serrano pepper, culinary moves that feel natural and not forced.
—Matthew Odam, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
Affected children don’t perk up, even after ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
—Erika Edwards, NBC news, 30 July 2025
When the streaming wars began around the early 2010s, the music business perked up.
—Jeff Rabhan, HollywoodReporter, 16 July 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 5 Aug. 2025.
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