PERKED (UP) Synonyms: 60 Similar and Opposite Words

perked (up)

verb

past tense of perk (up)

as in brightened

to become glad or hopeful we perked up once the sun came out

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in lifted

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 perked (up)

Verb

This treatment has noticeably brightened and smoothed my bags, however, thanks to its ingredient roster of retinol and other skin care superstars like the PDRN- and peptide-packed picks above.

— Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 30 Aug. 2026
Around that time, the comet experienced a large outburst, which brightened it about 8,000 times.

— Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of brightened

Verb

Growing up on a farm in Callicoon, New York, Keen looked up to his dad’s impressive career, but was more intrigued by his mom’s job at first.

— Giovana Gelhoren, InStyle, 15 Aug. 2026
This week's total solar eclipse captured the world's attention, and millions of skywatchers looked up (with the correct protective eyewear, hopefully) to experience the moon blocking out our star's light.

— Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of looked up

Verb

Lomonaco and the restaurant’s owners formed Windows of Hope, a charitable foundation that raised more than $22 million to pay for healthcare and tuition costs for the children of the victims.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026
Home built in phases A larger house came after the cabin, where Roebbelen and his wife, Kimberly, raised their three children.

— David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of raised

Verb

What remains disputed is whether those beliefs motivated the Tate-LaBianca murders or whether, as Berlinger argues, prosecutors elevated them into the central theory of their case.

— Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2026
This El Niño event has taken hold at a time when sea surface temperatures in the Pacific were already significantly elevated.

— Denise Chow, NBC news, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of elevated

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.

Browse Nearby Words

perk

perked (up)

perkily

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Perked (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perked%20%28up%29. Accessed 6 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of perked (up)

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

inexorable

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Games & Quizzes