# pep

/ˈpɛp/ (US) · /pˈɛp/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pep
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. energy and spirit

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

energy, spirit, or a lively feeling.

For teachers: energy, vitality, or high spirits. Often used in the context of motivation or physical liveliness.

- The upbeat music gave the runners some extra pep for the final mile.
- The coach's halftime speech was designed to restore some pep to the team after a demoralising first half.

Usage: Commonly found in the compound 'pep talk'.

### 5. to make lively

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to make someone or something more energetic or interesting.

For teachers: to impart energy, spirit, or liveliness to someone or something. Almost exclusively used with the particle 'up'.

- A bright coat of paint will really pep up this dark room.
- The marketing team decided to pep up the campaign with more vibrant colours and a faster soundtrack to appeal to a younger demographic.

Usage: Usually functions as the phrasal verb 'pep up'.

## Examples

- The coach's speech gave the team some extra pep.
- After a quick nap and a coffee, she felt full of pep and ready for the evening shift.
- The morning air was crisp and cold, seemingly injecting a sense of pep into the commuters as they hurried toward the station.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.