Definition

Verb (transitive): 1. To make something more interesting, lively, or energetic. 2. To spur on or encourage someone, especially by cheers or shouts.

Usage and Examples

• To make more interesting or lively:

  • She added some colorful charts to pep up her presentation.
  • Let's pep up this room with some new paint and pictures.
  • A good soundtrack can really pep up a workout.

• To spur on or encourage:

  • The coach's speech pepped up the team before the final game.
  • The crowd's cheers pepped up the runners in the last mile.

Advanced Usage

• The phrase can be used reflexively, though less commonly.
  • I need a strong coffee to pep myself up for the meeting.

Variants and Related Words

• Pep (noun): Energy, liveliness, or spirit.
  • He was full of pep this morning.
• Peppy (adjective): Lively, energetic.
  • She has a very peppy personality.

Synonyms

• Enliven
• Invigorate
• Energize
• Stimulate
• Encourage
• Cheer on

Phrasal Verbs

• Pep up is itself a phrasal verb. It is separable.
  • We need to pep this party up. (Separated)
  • We need to pep up this party. (Together)

Related Idioms

• A shot in the arm: Something that provides a sudden boost of energy or encouragement (similar in meaning to "pep up").
  • The new investment was a real shot in the arm for the project.

Verb

1. make more interesting or lively
   • juice up a party
   • pep up your paper
2. spur on or encourage especially by cheers and shouts
   • The crowd cheered the demonstrating strikers