1 C1 neutral
to raise the ears because of sudden interest or attention
"The rabbit pricked up its ears at the slightest noise."
inseparable
prick up
C1 neutral inseparable transitive/intransitive
to become suddenly alert, especially by raising the ears or attention
In plain English
to react quickly and pay close attention
What does "prick up" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 idiomatic neutral
to become suddenly interested or attentive
"Her ears pricked up when she heard her name mentioned."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
Literally, something sharp points upward.
Actually means
to react quickly and pay close attention
Usage tip
Often used with ears: 'The dog pricked up its ears.' Also appears in the phrase 'prick up your ears' meaning listen carefully.
Words that pair with "prick up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
ears attention interest at the sound when he heard dog
How to conjugate "prick up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
prick up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
pricks up
he/she/it
Past simple
pricked up
yesterday
Past participle
pricked up
have + pp
-ing form
pricking up
continuous
Hear "prick up" in the wild
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Other ways to say "prick up"
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