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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Sitake says the most rewarding team meetings are discussions around the smallest of gestures, brightening the days of others.—
Christopher Kamrani,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025 -
Writers need time to get to know their stars’ strengths, even if those stars have been brightening our screens for decades.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The former Blaugrana standout scored twice in the 2022 final as well as netting his penalty in the shootout on his way to lifting soccer’s most prestigious trophy.—
Frank Nunns O'Connell,
CNN Money,
28 Oct. 2025
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Later, the humanoids got up in a human-like manner, first lifting their legs and using their hip joint to get up and come back to their original standing position.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In the finale, Brandis pretends not to see the million-dollar stash in Maeve's possession and zips the bag back up, looking up as birds sing.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
20 Oct. 2025
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Prince Harry Has Tea With King Charles More recently, though, things have been looking up for the relationship as Harry and Charles met for tea at Clarence House in September.—
Jack Royston,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Still, the project adds another exclusive tier to a venue already marked by VIP enclaves, raising questions about how much of COTA’s most distinctive real estate will remain truly accessible — and for how long.—
Patrick Iversen,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
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The key to raising emotionally resilient kids is the ability to repair.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Remember to be patient as auroras may arrive in quiet bursts, glowing faintly before becoming vibrant waves of color.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
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Some say the glowing eyes belong to the ghost of a soldier who lost his head to cannon fire during the battle of Chickamauga.—
Graham Averill,
Outside,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Pair it with jeans, dress, midi skirts—pretty much anything, really—for an instantly polished look that adds an extra layer of warmth without taking up precious space in your luggage.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
17 Oct. 2025
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The teacher opted to try taking up the carpet herself on the last day of school, but later submitted a work order after the job turned out to be too difficult to complete herself, the letter reads.—
JENNAH PENDLETON,
Sacbee.com,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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As a member of the Phoenix Union High School District Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council, Yeraldin plays a role in elevating student voices, advocating for improvements in academics, extracurriculars and campus life.—
Erick Trevino,
AZCentral.com,
27 Oct. 2025
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The danger intensifies when storm surge coincides with high tide, rapidly elevating water levels and increasing the risk of widespread flooding.—
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
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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 29 Oct. 2025.
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