# perk

/ˈpɝk/ (US) · /pˈɜːk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/perk
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. job benefit

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

an extra benefit you get from your job in addition to your pay, like a company car or free meals.

For teachers: a perquisite; a benefit or advantage to which a person is entitled by virtue of their employment or position.

- One of the best perks of working at the bakery is the free bread every day.
- The executive package included several attractive perks, such as a private health plan and a generous travel allowance.

Usage: Usually countable; often used in the plural 'perks'.

### 2. gaming power-up

noun · CEFR B2 · Slang

a special ability or permanent power-up that your character gets in a video game.

For teachers: a permanent bonus or ability acquired by a player character to enhance performance or unlock new mechanics.

- I chose the 'fast runner' perk so I could escape from enemies more easily.
- Players must carefully decide which perks to unlock early in the game, as skill points are limited during the first ten levels.

### 3. to become more cheerful

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to become more lively, cheerful, or interested, especially after being tired or sad.

For teachers: to become more lively or cheerful; most frequently used in the phrasal verb 'perk up'.

- The dog perked up the moment he heard the sound of the treat jar opening.
- The market perked up slightly following the central bank's announcement, though investors remained cautious about long-term stability.

Usage: Almost always used with the particle 'up'.

### 4. to make coffee

verb · CEFR C2 · American English · Informal

to make coffee using a special machine called a percolator.

For teachers: to prepare coffee in a percolator; a shortened, informal form of 'percolate'.

- I could hear the coffee perking in the kitchen while I was still in bed.
- She preferred the robust aroma of coffee perking on the stove to the convenience of a modern pod machine.

## Examples

- Free coffee is a great perk of working here.
- One major perk of her new job is the ability to work from home three days a week.
- While the salary was competitive, it was the additional perks, such as the private health insurance and the gym membership, that ultimately convinced him to sign the contract.

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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.