perk
1 of 3verb (1)
ˈpərk 
perked; perking; perks
intransitive verb
1
a
: to thrust up the head, stretch out the neck, or carry the body in a bold or insolent manner
b
: to stick up or out jauntily
2
: to gain in vigor or cheerfulness especially after a period of weakness or depression —usually used with up
he's perked up noticeably
transitive verb
1
: to make smart or spruce in appearance : freshen, improve —often used with up
2
: to thrust up quickly or impudently
perk
2 of 3verb (2)
perked; perking; perks
intransitive verb
: percolate
perk
3 of 3noun
: perquisite —usually used in plural
Synonyms
Verb (1)
- brighten
- buck up
- cheer (up)
- lighten
- look up
Noun
- bonus
- cumshaw
- dividend
- donative
- extra
- gratuity
- gravy
- gravy train
- lagniappe
- perquisite
- throw-in
- tip
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun the salary's not great, but the perks make up for it
Recent Examples on the Web
Emily Wilson, Bon Appétit, 3 Sep. 2022 Again, even a little bit of physical activity and daylight boosts levels of dopamine and serotonin, another feel-good hormone, which can help perk you up. Cathryne Keller, SELF, 16 Aug. 2022 Feeling drained is likely, and even a good night's rest or some caffeine may not have been able to perk you up. Chicago Tribune, 29 July 2022 Because this look has a subtle contrast of gray and white shades, the waves emphasize the different colors and visually perk it up. Wendy Sy, Allure, 28 July 2022 His sows seemed to perk up at the tune — and even began wagging their tails. Fox News, 28 July 2022 Some doctors do a blood test measuring a woman’s level of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) — remember, that’s the hormone that rises to try to get your winding-down ovaries to perk up — to determine whether someone is perimenopausal. Meryl Davids Landau, Good Housekeeping, 6 July 2022 However, when Google comes out fighting with a statement that there's 'no place like Chrome' for getting things done, and done securely, on your iPhone, my ears perk up a little. Davey Winder, Forbes, 24 June 2022 At Hall of Fame, a sportswear and fashion store, one employee is not interested in the show, but another’s ears perk up. Nate Rogers, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2022 Detroit Free Press, 1 Sep. 2022 Founded in 2009, Expensify is ranked No. 2 among small businesses on the Top Workplaces list, with perhaps the most eye-opening perk. Marcus Crowder, San Francisco Chronicle, 23 June 2022 Unlimited vacation policies are mostly criticized because people who work for companies with the perk often take less vacation than those with limited vacation. Cheria Young, Forbes, 27 Apr. 2022 When combined with the Reach perk, players have captured footage of themselves lancing foes from absurd distances. Washington Post, 3 Dec. 2021 The Pawlentys and the Venturas were generous with time and advice, Walz said, as his own family prepared its move into the Summit Avenue mansion that may be the biggest perk of the job. Patrick Condon, Star Tribune, 19 June 2021 Still, with overcrowding rampant in jails and prisons, getting incarcerated people vaccinated is a priority for their own immediate health, and adding the possible perk of a quicker move has been a convincing argument at Men’s Central recently. Thuc Nhi Nguyen Staff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2021 Despite this relatively delicate material, this cabinet can still support up to 99.2 pounds, and the solid hinges are a nice perk as well. Alex Rennie, Popular Mechanics, 11 Aug. 2022 Visiting other schools is a nice perk, but Davis remains committed to being a part of trying to return FSU to prominence. Robert Fenbers, cleveland, 2 July 2022 See More
Verb
Even in the absence of a specific reason for it, the Poy-Sian jolt never fails to perk me up. Emily Wilson, Bon Appétit, 3 Sep. 2022 Again, even a little bit of physical activity and daylight boosts levels of dopamine and serotonin, another feel-good hormone, which can help perk you up. Cathryne Keller, SELF, 16 Aug. 2022 Feeling drained is likely, and even a good night's rest or some caffeine may not have been able to perk you up. Chicago Tribune, 29 July 2022 Because this look has a subtle contrast of gray and white shades, the waves emphasize the different colors and visually perk it up. Wendy Sy, Allure, 28 July 2022 His sows seemed to perk up at the tune — and even began wagging their tails. Fox News, 28 July 2022 Some doctors do a blood test measuring a woman’s level of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) — remember, that’s the hormone that rises to try to get your winding-down ovaries to perk up — to determine whether someone is perimenopausal. Meryl Davids Landau, Good Housekeeping, 6 July 2022 However, when Google comes out fighting with a statement that there's 'no place like Chrome' for getting things done, and done securely, on your iPhone, my ears perk up a little. Davey Winder, Forbes, 24 June 2022 At Hall of Fame, a sportswear and fashion store, one employee is not interested in the show, but another’s ears perk up. Nate Rogers, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2022 Noun
The more successful vaudevillians were able to take summers off, Pesch says, a nice perk when theaters weren’t yet air-conditioned. Detroit Free Press, 1 Sep. 2022 Founded in 2009, Expensify is ranked No. 2 among small businesses on the Top Workplaces list, with perhaps the most eye-opening perk. Marcus Crowder, San Francisco Chronicle, 23 June 2022 Unlimited vacation policies are mostly criticized because people who work for companies with the perk often take less vacation than those with limited vacation. Cheria Young, Forbes, 27 Apr. 2022 When combined with the Reach perk, players have captured footage of themselves lancing foes from absurd distances. Washington Post, 3 Dec. 2021 The Pawlentys and the Venturas were generous with time and advice, Walz said, as his own family prepared its move into the Summit Avenue mansion that may be the biggest perk of the job. Patrick Condon, Star Tribune, 19 June 2021 Still, with overcrowding rampant in jails and prisons, getting incarcerated people vaccinated is a priority for their own immediate health, and adding the possible perk of a quicker move has been a convincing argument at Men’s Central recently. Thuc Nhi Nguyen Staff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2021 Despite this relatively delicate material, this cabinet can still support up to 99.2 pounds, and the solid hinges are a nice perk as well. Alex Rennie, Popular Mechanics, 11 Aug. 2022 Visiting other schools is a nice perk, but Davis remains committed to being a part of trying to return FSU to prominence. Robert Fenbers, cleveland, 2 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Verb (1)
Middle English
First Known Use
Verb (1)
14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a
Verb (2)
1922, in the meaning defined above
Noun
1824, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing perk
Kids Definition
perk
verb
ˈpərk
perked; perking
1
: to make or become more lively or cheerful
I perked up when I heard the good news.
2
: to make fresher in appearance
Let's perk the room up with fresh paint.
3
: to lift in a quick, alert, or bold way
The dog perked its ears.
perks
noun
as in bonuses
something given in addition to what is ordinarily expected or owed the salary's not great, but the perks make up for it Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- bonuses
- dividends
- gifts
- perquisites
- contributions
- tips
- rewards
- extras
- donations
- pensions
- gratuities
- donatives
- offerings
- subsidies
- bounties
- grants
- gravies
- gravy trains
- presents
- generosities
- presentations
- prizes
- throw-ins
- premiums
- awards
- lagniappes
- freebies
- benefactions
- benevolences
- boons
- largesses
- bestowals
- windfalls
- beneficences
- charities
- cumshaws
- giveaways
- freebees
- philanthropies
- fringe benefits
- mannas
- favors
- icings