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Synonyms

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.

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.
perk 3 American  
[purk] / pɜrk /
Also perc

noun

Informal.

  1. perquisite.

perk 1 British  
/ pɜːk /

adjective

  1. pert; brisk; lively

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. See perk up

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
perk 2 British  
/ pɜːk /

verb

  1. (intr) (of coffee) to percolate

  2. (tr) to percolate (coffee)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
perk 3 British  
/ pɜːk /

noun

  1. informal  short for perquisite

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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

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

Solo EV drivers using California carpool lanes will face ticketing beginning Monday as the perk disappears.

From Los Angeles Times

On the minus side, the ads are really, really annoying, and Prime Video remains mostly a perk for customers who sign up for the shopping and shipping deals.

From MarketWatch

Cava also offers things like tiered status—perks for people who visit more often—free pita chips and letting customers cash in points for avocado.

From The Wall Street Journal

The appeal organisers, The Local Buyers Club, is a membership group that encourages people to shop at local independent business with exclusive discounts and perks.

From BBC

They are enjoying the trappings including perks, bonuses and, in many cases, pay boosts.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.