peak

¹ American  

[peek] / pik /

noun

• peaks
  plural

1. the pointed top of a mountain or ridge.

2. a mountain with a pointed summit.

3. the pointed top of anything.

4. the highest or most important point or level.

   the peak of her political career.

   Synonyms:

   optimum, perfect, ideal, zenith, summit, pinnacle, apex, acme

   Antonyms:

   nadir, abyss, chasm

5. the maximum point, degree, or volume of anything.

   Oil prices reached their peak last year.

6. a time of the day or year when traffic, use, demand, etc., is greatest and charges, fares, or the like are at the maximum.

   Early evening is the peak on commuter railroads.

7. the higher fare, charges, etc., during such a period.

   If you fly during the Christmas holidays, you'll have to pay peak.

8. Physics.

   1. the maximum value of a quantity during a specified time interval.

      a voltage peak.

   2. the maximum power consumed or produced by a unit or group of units in a stated period of time.

9. a projecting point.

   the peak of a man's beard.

10. widow's peak.

11. a projecting front piece, or visor, of a cap.

12. Phonetics. nucleus.

13. Nautical.

    1. the contracted part of a ship's hull at the bow or the stern.

    2. the upper after corner of a sail that is extended by a gaff.

    3. the outer extremity of a gaff.

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verb (used without object)

1. to project in a peak.

2. to attain a peak of activity, development, popularity, etc..

   The artist peaked in the 1950s.

verb (used with object)

1. Nautical. to raise the after end of (a yard, gaff, etc.) to or toward an angle above the horizontal.

adjective

1. Also being at the point of maximum frequency, intensity, use, etc.; busiest or most active.

   Hotel rooms are most expensive during the peak travel seasons.

2. constituting the highest or maximum level, volume, etc.; optimal; prime.

   a machine running at peak performance.

3. being at the height of trendiness, public notice, etc.

   We have reached peak “exercise dress”—women are gravitating toward sporty, stretchy skort-dresses for everyday wear.

4. being the most perfect embodiment of something.

   Peak Gemini energy on display as our kid takes one lick off everyone’s cone, because she likes all the ice cream flavors.

peak ² American  

[peek] / pik /

verb (used without object)

1. to become weak, thin, and sickly.

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peak British  

/ piːk /

noun

1. a pointed end, edge, or projection

   the peak of a roof

2. the pointed summit of a mountain

3. a mountain with a pointed summit

4. the point of greatest development, strength, etc

   the peak of his career

5. 1. a sharp increase in a physical quantity followed by a sharp decrease

      a voltage peak

   2. the maximum value of this quantity

   3. ( as modifier )

      peak voltage

6. Also called: visor. a projecting piece on the front of some caps

7. 1. See widow's peak

   2. the pointed end of a beard

8. nautical

   1. the extreme forward ( forepeak ) or aft ( afterpeak ) part of the hull

   2. (of a fore-and-aft quadrilateral sail) the after uppermost corner

   3. the after end of a gaff

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verb

1. (tr) nautical to set (a gaff) or tilt (oars) vertically

2. to form or reach or cause to form or reach a peak or maximum

adjective

1. of or relating to a period of highest use or demand, as for watching television, commuting, etc

   peak viewing hours

   peak time

Usage

What's the difference between peak, peek, and pique? The word peak refers to the top of a mountain or, more figuratively, to the highest point of something, as in the peak of my career. The word peek is most commonly used as a verb meaning to look at something quickly or sneakily and as a noun referring to such a look. The less frequently used word pique is most commonly used as a verb meaning to arouse or excite a particular feeling, as in Advertisements are designed to pique your interest. The confusion surrounding the three words—all three of which can be used as both a verb and a noun—is mainly due to the fact that they are all pronounced the same. Since peak and peek are so close in spelling, one way to tell them apart is to remember that peek has two e’s, which kind of look like two little eyes peeking out between the p and the k. Another way to remember this is that peek has two e’s like look has two o’s. To remember what pique means (and how to spell it), remember that the things that pique your interest or curiosity are often unique. Here’s an example of peak, peek, and pique used correctly in a sentence. Example: The image of the strange mountain peak on the cover was meant to pique your curiosity, and it worked—you picked up the magazine to peek inside. Want to learn more? Read the breakdown of the difference between peaked, peeked, and piqued.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• peakishness
  noun
• peakish
  adjective
• peakless
  adjective
• peaklike
  adjective
• peaky
  adjective
• peakishly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• peaks
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of peak¹

First recorded in 1520–30; late Middle English pek(e) “spike, pointed tip,” Old English pīc “point, pointed instrument, pike,” probably originally a variant of pike ² ( def. ); compare Middle Low German pēk, peek, peik “pick, pike”

Origin of peak²

First recorded in 1500–10; origin uncertain

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Explanation

Use the word peak to refer to the pointy top of something, such as the jagged peak of a tall mountain or the tapered peak that forms when you beat egg whites for a recipe. Peak is one of those words that can play a variety of roles in a sentence. The noun peak can refer to something that is a literal highpoint, like that snow-covered peak over there in the distance, but you will also hear it used to refer to more abstract high points, such as a time of greatest success ("at the peak of your career") or top performance ("the stock price reached a peak over the summer") or highest level ("the peak of the flu season"). The word also has a verb form ("Don’t peak too soon") and an adjective form ("peak productivity") that carry similar meanings.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

peak peaks

The chances of seeing a storm increases from late summer and throughout autumn with the peak of the season arriving in our winter months.

From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2026

A sustained peak in long-term yields would have consequences far beyond the Treasury market.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026

Even so, that wasn’t the peak of insanity this week.

From Salon ● Oct. 16, 2026

Global forecasters expect this episode to be the strongest on record, and sea surface temperatures in parts of the Pacific have already hit all-time highs months before its expected peak.

From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026

He opened a large chest and found underlinen and hosen, a hood with a long peak, and a warm cloak.

From "The Door in the Wall" by Marguerite de Angeli

"We're going to visit dozens of towns and villages and we'll attempt to scale some of the region's highest peaks, including the famous Holme Moss climb."

From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026

The first biography of Shaw to appear in decades, it takes its place as the most nuanced—frequently pausing for analysis without impeding the propulsive narrative that peaks when the 25-year-old meets his moment.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026

And we are near the peaks of those cycles.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 11, 2026

Indonesia regularly battles wildfires during the dry season, which in Borneo typically peaks between July and September.

From Barron's ● Oct. 9, 2026

With the sun resting above the peaks, the wooden skeleton of the great ship stood out sharply against the mound which nearly enveloped it.

From "The Book of Three" by Lloyd Alexander

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Related Words

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