peer
1 Americanverb (used without object)
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to look narrowly or searchingly, as in the effort to discern clearly.
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to peep out or appear slightly.
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to come into view.
noun
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peers
plural
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a person of the same legal status.
a jury of one's peers.
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a person who is equal to another in abilities, qualifications, age, background, and social status.
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something of equal worth or quality.
a skyscraper without peer.
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a nobleman.
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a member of any of the five degrees of the nobility in Great Britain and Ireland (duke, marquis, earl, viscount, and baron).
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Computers.
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a network connected to one or more other networks in a way that routes traffic independently between them in a direct exchange of data.
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a computer or device that is connected to others in a network, either directly or through a server.
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Archaic. a companion.
verb (used without object)
noun
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a member of a nobility; nobleman
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a person who holds any of the five grades of the British nobility: duke, marquess, earl, viscount, and baron See also life peer
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a person who is an equal in social standing, rank, age, etc
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( as modifier )
peer pressure
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archaic a companion; mate
verb
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to look intently with or as if with difficulty
to peer into the distance
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to appear partially or dimly
the sun peered through the fog
Synonym Usage
See peep 1.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of peer1
First recorded in 1560–70; perhaps a variant of appear
Origin of peer2
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English per, from Old French per, from Latin pār “equal, an equal, partner”
Explanation
A peer is someone at your own level. If you are a 10th grader, other high school students are your peers. Peer comes from the Latin par which means equal. When you are on par with someone, you are their peer. If kids your age are pressuring you to do something you don't want to do, that's peer pressure. In the sport of basketball, Michael Jordan was without peer, no one could equal his talent. When he switched to baseball, he found himself to be among peers again.
Vocabulary lists containing peer
Two-Faced Words: Contronyms
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"Of Mice and Men"
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"All Summer in a Day" by Ray Bradbury
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Lastly, I would make it a joint effort, with the daughter acting as a peer who is also learning and in need of education — not as an overseer.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 24, 2026
Lord Wormald will be an independent crossbench peer and is scheduled to formally take his seat on Thursday.
From BBC ● Sep. 14, 2026
The study was released on a preprint server and is still undergoing the process of peer review.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2026
Grant nominees undergo a rigorous national peer review process before being chosen.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 12, 2026
Penelope tried to peer around the doorman but could see nothing; the big fellow loomed too large.
From "The Hidden Gallery" by Maryrose Wood
They estimate that, by the end of 2027, BP’s total financial obligations will have fallen by 50%, to take their gearing metrics back in line with European peers for the first time this decade.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 23, 2026
David M. Rubenstein, who acquired the Baltimore Orioles in 2024 for $1.7 billion, sought insight from his peers about successful team ownership.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026
The Committee to Protect Journalists, the Radio Television Digital News Association and even Acosta’s peers at The Daily Caller – a right-leaning news outlet – condemned the White House ban.
From Salon ● Sep. 22, 2026
A woman peers out of a window and looks bemused at the sight of two men and a trolley.
From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2026
His voice a thick whisper, Robby peers up at both of us from his slumped form on the desk.
From "Saints and Misfits" by S.K. Ali
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
