1
as in brightening
to become glad or hopeful
we perked up once the sun came out
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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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First, find Copernicus shining brightly 10 degrees above the lunar equator, brightening the dark basaltic plains on the western lunar surface, and Tycho, which dominates the southern hemisphere of Earth's natural satellite around the full moon phase.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
3 Apr. 2026 -
Ferulic acid boosts that brightening trio, while niacinamide and tangerine peel extract help even things out over time.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The city chose a more muscular solution, raising the park and lifting the river’s edge to form a wall intended to hold back sixteen feet of surge.—
Eric Klinenberg,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
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If Orbán is reelected, the EU could use that funding as a bargaining chip to extract concessions such as lifting his veto of the 90 billion euros to Ukraine, Hegedűs said.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Sienna comes home On March 23 a picture popped up in the Illinois group text message – Sienna looking up at the camera, snug in her yellow jammies.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
3 Apr. 2026
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And make no mistake, the competition isn’t just on the field this year, as the Yankees are looking up at their counterparts at Citi Field who were just voted to have the best baseball stadium food in USA Today’s most recent Readers’ Choice Awards.—
Andy Clayton,
New York Daily News,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But the arc — first raising expectations for a big reveal, then declaring there was nothing to see, and ultimately a forced, flawed document dump — was a stubbornly problematic storyline that ran through her time as attorney general.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 Apr. 2026
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Despite recent rain and snow in Northern California, state water officials say the Sierra snowpack remains near historic lows, raising concerns about water availability during the hot summer months.—
Brady Halbleib,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Images taken from inside the Orion capsule have shifted from solely highlighting the glowing spectacle of Earth as seen from a cosmic perspective to refocusing on the moon as the mission draws closer to the silvery orb.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
4 Apr. 2026
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Meanwhile, some of the survey’s 100 multiple-choice questions gave city officials a different not-so-glowing look at operations within the police department.—
Nick Ferraro,
Twin Cities,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Because of inflation and changing consumer habits, many big name retailers have been forced to reduce their store footprints, with e-commerce taking up a higher bulk of sales.—
Suzanne Blake,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
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Trading pencil skirts for scrubs and pilot uniforms, many women are making waves by taking up space in high-paying industries.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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There are self-pampering add-ons too, like scheduling an in-room Swedish and deep-tissue massage, or elevating your sleep with a personalized turndown service.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Apr. 2026
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Ailing with a hurt knee and foot that kept him from elevating, the graduate transfer from UAB finished with 13 points on 4-for-13 shooting.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 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 7 Apr. 2026.
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