perk up
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
—often used figuratively of a person
The dog's ears perked up.
My ears perked up when I heard my name mentioned.
Examples of perk up in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Leaves perk up, blooms return, and the whole basket feels alive again. —
Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 26 Apr. 2026 After receiving a scent from the missing woman's pillow, the two dogs made their way down the 9000 block of Old City Creek Road in Running Springs and perked up. —Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026 Mother frowned, then perked up. —Literary Hub, 24 Apr. 2026 Netflix stock perked up in pre-market trading on the news. —Dade Hayes, Deadline, 23 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for perk up
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 26 Apr. 2026 After receiving a scent from the missing woman's pillow, the two dogs made their way down the 9000 block of Old City Creek Road in Running Springs and perked up. —Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026 Mother frowned, then perked up. —Literary Hub, 24 Apr. 2026 Netflix stock perked up in pre-market trading on the news. —Dade Hayes, Deadline, 23 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for perk up
Cite this Entry
“Perk up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/dictionary/perk%20up. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
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