perk

¹ American  

[purk] / pɜrk /

verb (used without object)

1. to become lively, cheerful, or vigorous, as after depression or sickness (usually followed byup ).

   The patients all perked up when we played the piano for them.

2. to act, or carry oneself, in a jaunty manner.

3. to put oneself forward briskly or presumptuously.

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verb (used with object)

1. to make smart, trim, or jaunty (sometimes followed by up orout ).

   to perk up a suit with a new white blouse.

2. to raise smartly or briskly (often followed by up orout ).

   to perk one's head up.

adjective

1. perky; jaunty.

   a perk manner.

perk ² American  

[purk] / pɜrk /

verb (used with or without object)

Informal.

1. to percolate.

   Has the coffee perked yet? The research team is perking with new ideas.

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perk ³ American  

[purk] / pɜrk /

Also perc

noun

Informal.

1. perquisite.

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perk ¹ British  

/ pɜːk /

adjective

1. pert; brisk; lively

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verb

1. See perk up

perk ² British  

/ pɜːk /

verb

1. (intr) (of coffee) to percolate

2. (tr) to percolate (coffee)

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perk ³ British  

/ pɜːk /

noun

1. informal short for perquisite

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Other Word Forms

• perkingly adverb
• perkish adjective

Etymology

Origin of perk¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English perken “(of a bird) to perch on a tree”; akin to perch ¹

Origin of perk²

An Americanism dating back to 1920–25; by shortening and respelling

Origin of perk³

First recorded in 1865–70; by shortening and respelling

Example Sentences

Unlike Delta, which bombards premium travelers with what-to-expect emails ahead of their flight, JetBlue was notably silent about its Mint perks after I booked in mid-February.

From The Wall Street Journal

Demand has since perked up slightly, with the current going rate on the secondary market for a “Girl” hovering around $1 million, he said.

From The Wall Street Journal

For years, Dubai has helped foster a sprawling ecosystem of content creators with lucrative sponsorships and luxury perks.

From The Wall Street Journal

Thanks to his advertising spending on Facebook and Instagram, Brian Waldman says he has enjoyed a seemingly unlikely perk: He gets to travel the world in style.

From MarketWatch

“You don’t find this perk in the private sector.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• advantage
• bonus
• dividend
• extra
• fringe benefit
• gratuity
• perquisite