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pep up

B1 informal separable both
In simple words

To give more energy or excitement to a person or thing.

Meanings

1 B1 idiomatic informal

To make a person feel more energetic or enthusiastic.

"A short walk outside really pepped me up after hours at my desk."

Grammar: separable
2 B1 idiomatic informal

To make something such as a presentation, event, or piece of work more lively or interesting.

"They added some live music to pep up the annual conference."

Grammar: separable
3 B1 idiomatic informal

To become more energetic or cheerful (intransitive).

"The whole team pepped up when the manager announced a bonus."

Usage notes

'Pep up' comes from 'pep', an informal word for energy and enthusiasm. It can be used transitively ('this coffee will pep you up') or intransitively ('she really pepped up after lunch'). Common in everyday informal speech. Often used to describe the effect of food, drink, exercise, or encouragement.

Commonly used with

coffee music exercise talk meeting presentation

Forms

Base
pep up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
peps up
he/she/it
Past simple
peped up
yesterday
Past participle
peped up
have + pp
-ing form
peping up
continuous

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Synonyms

energise invigorate liven up boost stimulate enliven

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