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perking up

VERB

cheer

Synonyms

STRONGEST

brighten mend take heart

WEAK

ameliorate be refreshed buck up cheer up convalesce gain improve invigorate liven up look up pep up rally recover recuperate refresh renew revive shake

Antonyms

WEAK

depress

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Yet with signs of diplomacy perking up External link, markets rebounded after an initial selloff.

From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026

ADP said businesses created 63,000 new jobs in February — the biggest increase in seven months — in another sign that a sluggish U.S. labor market might be slightly perking up.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 4, 2026

Per a pro-tip from Nosrat, try perking up leftover chicken with salt and acid.

From Salon • Sep. 6, 2025

"The governor left and Simon fell asleep again in a second after perking up for 15 minutes, which I didn’t think he would manage."

From BBC • Sep. 11, 2024

"Now that's a thought," Bruno said, perking up a bit.

From "The Witches" by Roald Dahl