perk up

phrasal verb

perked up; perking up; perks up

informal

: 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.

: to make (something) fresher or more appealing

The new paint job really perked up the room.

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 person

My ears perked up when I heard my name mentioned.

Examples of perk up in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Small-cap stocks have been perking up as of late as investors rotate out of their big tech winners — and a few of these names also happen to offer attractive dividends. —

Darla Mercado, Cfp®, CNBC, 24 July 2024 Plus, the monthly themes are a pretty way to perk up my kitchen! —

Chaunie Brusie, Rn, Parents, 5 Aug. 2024 The room perks up at the sound of her voice, and staff members pause to say hello. —

Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 2 Aug. 2024 The spicy, salty, savory, and slightly sweet gochujang sauce (a staple sauce used in many Korean recipes) perks up the natural sweetness and floral aroma of the melon. —

Karla Walsh, Southern Living, 27 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for perk up

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'perk up.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.