Verb (used without object), verb (used with object) : Has the coffee perked yet? The research team is perking with new ideas.    From Dictionary.com. 

After the keynote speech, anyone with half a brain perked up and took notice.    From Wordnik.com.  [Matthew Yglesias » Times Change] Reference

I quick changed the water, and, you know, he kind of perked up.    From Wordnik.com.  [Day in the Life of an Idiot] Reference

And it kind of perked my curiosity, because it's a story I think many Americans have been interested in.    From Wordnik.com.  [CNN Transcript Nov 5, 2009] Reference

But lunch kind of perked me up, and we learned more useful stuff like how to put up an exhibition on crime-fighting.    From Wordnik.com.  [babycartercl Diary Entry] Reference

I perked right up and got the surprise of my life.    From Wordnik.com.  [Forever Elvis] Reference

Though believe me, their ears perked up yesterday.    From Wordnik.com.  [Settling The Word Score: No Proper Nouns In Scrabble] Reference

Chicken Little perked up at the prospect of a tussle.    From Wordnik.com.  [Chicken Little Jane] Reference

My ears immediately perked up and my curiosity piqued.    From Wordnik.com.  [Outer Space Visitor] Reference

You'll hardly know them now, they're so perked up and tidy.    From Wordnik.com.  [Medoline Selwyn's Work] Reference

BLITZER: Because when I heard those words, my ears perked up.    From Wordnik.com.  [CNN Transcript Feb 7, 2009] Reference

A few poor flowers in rare window-boxes perked up their heads.    From Wordnik.com.  [Sweetapple Cove] Reference

Unfortunately, mortgage rates actually perked up a little bit.    From Wordnik.com.  [CNN Transcript Feb 2, 2008] Reference

But right toward the end, as I report, suddenly, he perked up.    From Wordnik.com.  [CNN Transcript Jul 1, 2009] Reference

NGUYEN: Yes, he may have perked some interest if nothing else.    From Wordnik.com.  [CNN Transcript Apr 15, 2008] Reference

Her voice perked up when speaking on next month's spring shows.    From Wordnik.com.  [Couture in the Courtroom] Reference

I felt tired but perked up after seeing familiar faces around me.    From Wordnik.com.  [Starting From Scratch] Reference

The animal perked up his head and kept his eye upon the revolver.    From Wordnik.com.  [The Broncho Rider Boys with Funston at Vera Cruz Or, Upholding the Honor of the Stars and Stripes] Reference

Word is that the recovery on the horizon has perked up investors.    From Wordnik.com.  [CNN Transcript Sep 16, 2009] Reference

Chow perked up, and the employees, reassured, returned to their jobs.    From Wordnik.com.  [Tom Swift and the Electronic Hydrolung] Reference

But David noticed that its whiskers had perked up to a quite cheerful angle.    From Wordnik.com.  [David and the Phoenix] Reference

Apparently that has perked a lot of interest out there in the online audience.    From Wordnik.com.  [CNN Transcript Oct 1, 2008] Reference

           When Vanessa came back from France, she perked with ideas.    From Wordnik.com.  [Still Life in a Bowl] Reference

She should stand by her man with her eyes open, ears perked and feet ready to run.    From Wordnik.com.  [CNN Transcript Apr 22, 2009] Reference

My ears perked up and I leaned over to their table and I said, "What's DailyCandy?".    From Wordnik.com.  [DailyCandy: Dany Levy's Sweetest Idea] Reference

He inserted a feeding tube and Amillia took to it in the first try, perked right up.    From Wordnik.com.  [CNN Transcript Feb 20, 2007] Reference

He inserted a breathing tube and Amelia took to it on the first try, perked right up.    From Wordnik.com.  [CNN Transcript Feb 20, 2007] Reference

  He seemed to have perked up a bit — the prospect of food was all it took sometimes.    From Wordnik.com.  [Zombie, Attorneys at Law] Reference

And the overall number of new highs on the Big Board perked up, 223 highs, only 19 lows.    From Wordnik.com.  [CNN Transcript Aug 18, 2003] Reference

And before the Iraq crisis perked up in February, the economy was showing signs of life.    From Wordnik.com.  [CNN Transcript May 18, 2003] Reference

Christo perked up like a guy on a bad date who is finally asked, "So, tell me about you.".    From Wordnik.com.  [American Beat: Christo At The Gates] Reference

Graham perked up, as did Cindy, who was sitting there patiently with her agitated husband.    From Wordnik.com.  [The Great Debates] Reference

When he came into that courtroom, I understand, the jury perked up, the audience perked up.    From Wordnik.com.  [CNN Transcript May 13, 2005] Reference

When I see myself in the mirror, I am perked up by the cleanliness and vibrancy of the colors.    From Wordnik.com.  [Lodro Rinzler: The Buddhist Gentleman: How to Buy Nice Clothes] Reference

The four horses that occupied the pens immediately perked up from their naps when Edwin entered.    From Wordnik.com.  [The Oaten Hands] Reference

CROWLEY: Over the weekend, he perked interest in the Democratic equivalent of the Alamo, Florida.    From Wordnik.com.  [CNN Transcript Dec 13, 2005] Reference

But when we came back to check on him a few minutes later, he was perked up and purring just fine.    From Wordnik.com.  [CNN Transcript Nov 23, 2006] Reference