1
as in brightening
to become glad or hopeful
we perked up once the sun came out
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in lifting
to move from a lower to a higher place or position
the dog tilts her head and perks up her ears whenever someone speaks to her
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perking (up)
Verb
-
The afternoon was brightening, the sun preparing to come through.—
Stephen King,
The Atlantic,
15 May 2026 -
Blurring pores and fine lines is desirable, but this primer has color-correcting properties that take it one step further — covering redness, brightening dark undereyes, and creating an overall healthy-looking complexion.—
Rachel Trujillo,
PEOPLE,
14 May 2026
Verb
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No doubt the bill of materials will be lower on this twelve-month-old design, lifting the margins on what will remain the current vanilla handset.—
Ewan Spence,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
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Appropriately, 19 miles east of their first major trophy lift since the 2021/22 League Cup, City men busied themselves by lifting the FA Cup over Chelsea in what was Pep Guardiola’s 24th visit to Wembley Stadium and his 20th major trophies as City manager.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
Verb
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Taller buildings are going up, and things are looking up.—
Aldo Svaldi,
Denver Post,
18 May 2026
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He's been looking up ways to move and work abroad for the last year.—
Jennifer Liu,
CNBC,
17 May 2026
Verb
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The governing body said the show would support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which is raising $100 million to help children access education and soccer.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 May 2026
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Israel’s national security minister inflamed the situation with a provocative visit to the contested Al Aqsa Mosque compound, raising concerns about Jerusalem’s status in the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict.—
Julia Frankel,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
Verb
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With more than 2,000 glowing five-star reviews, this streamlined shirt is destined to become your newest wardrobe staple.—
Kate Donovan,
Southern Living,
18 May 2026
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Long before glowing storefronts, crowded shopping malls, and overnight deliveries became the norm, everyday commerce in America moved at a much slower, more intimate pace.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
18 May 2026
Verb
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Its minimalist silhouette and hip-length hem pair effortlessly with shorts, skirts, or linen trousers, helping to stretch your travel wardrobe without taking up much suitcase space.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
20 May 2026
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The new Pittsburgh Public Schools board is once again taking up a controversial plan to close seven schools.—
Andy Sheehan,
CBS News,
20 May 2026
Verb
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While her defensive energy contributed to the team’s depth, a scoreless night highlighted the utter absurdity of the league elevating a backup guard over the most prolific scorer in basketball history, especially on a night when the team was already missing its star center.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
18 May 2026
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As reported, Gucci is anchoring the core of its business in a strong midprice proposition between 2,000 euros and 3,000 euros, elevating its top tier with distinctive details and richer materials, and redesigning entry level styles without compromising quality.—
Emily Mercer,
Footwear News,
17 May 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Perking (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perking%20%28up%29. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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