WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
pep•per-up•per
(pep′ər up′ər),USA pronunciation n. [Informal.]
- Informal Termssomething, as a food, beverage, or pill, that provides a quick but temporary period of energy and alertness.
- Informal Termssomething added to food to relieve blandness.
- Informal Termsan experience that increases enthusiasm or zeal, as a pep talk.
- pep up + -er1, suffixed pleonastically to both verb, verbal and particle 1935–40