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
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If your grout isn't horrendous with dirt or stains, this might be a great cleaner for brightening the lines.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
13 Mar. 2026 -
With sisters that specialize in this ilk of blonde, Elizabeth Olsen's beige old money is broken up only by some brightening highlights within her wispy bangs.—
Calin Van Paris,
InStyle,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The bootcut shape is leg-elongating, while the back seams and pockets add a butt-lifting effect.—
Alyssa Morin,
InStyle,
15 Mar. 2026
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And for the president when he’s criticized about lifting the sanctions on Russia, to somehow turn around and blame Zelenskyy, blame Ukraine.—
NBC news,
NBC news,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Anyone with a functioning pair of corneas can see that the San Francisco 49ers are currently looking up at the Seattle Seahawks and the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC West pecking order.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
7 Mar. 2026
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The length of the cold stratification process varies by species, so Phillips recommends looking up each plant’s specific chilling requirement and planning accordingly.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The Rochester Township Council held its regular meeting on Thursday evening, and it was packed with people who were raising concerns about chemical odors lingering in their neighborhood.—
Jessica Riley,
CBS News,
20 Mar. 2026
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Federal officers have used administrative warrants to do so, raising concerns that constitutional protections are being skirted.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The sparklers weren't the only thing dazzling; Hudson finished off the look with a glowing glam that featured a dewy complexion, shimmery eyeshadow, black liner, and a pink lip.—
Tessa Petak,
InStyle,
16 Mar. 2026
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Nighttime is ideal for viewing the molten lava from the Halemaʻumaʻu crater, and the best viewing spots of the glowing crater include the Kilauea Overlook, Waldron Ledge and the Devastation Trail parking area.—
Ben Davidson,
Mercury News,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
There are no indications that Congress is taking up the legislation.—
Berkeley Lovelace Jr,
NBC news,
18 Mar. 2026
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Rather than having cluttered and mismatched products taking up precious space, Hamid recommends unifying products.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The smallest task can be elevating.—
Magi Helena,
Dallas Morning News,
17 Mar. 2026
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Successful leaders are indeed rare, in all walks of life, but finding them, elevating them and supporting them is essential to our nation’s future.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
16 Mar. 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 21 Mar. 2026.
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