perk up

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.

He has naturally small ears, he said, so seeing them perk up in the mirror felt strange at first.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026

It’s hard to see why conditions perk up from here, and the Fed isn’t about to ride to the rescue.

From Barron's • Mar. 6, 2026

A little lemon zest can perk up even the simplest of dishes, like scrambled eggs.

From Salon • Feb. 26, 2026

"But I need to be able to handle all the feelings and then perk up and perform."

From BBC • Dec. 12, 2025

She laughed very softly, almost soundlessly The phone rang, and she seemed to perk up a bit.

From "Kira-Kira" by Cynthia Kadohata