peek
Americanverb (used without object)
-
peeks,
present (3rd person singular)
-
peeked,
past participle, past
-
peeking
present participle
noun
-
peeks
plural
verb
noun
Usage
What's the difference between peek, peak, and pique? 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 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 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 peek and peak 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 peek, peak, 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 peeked, peaked, and piqued.
Synonym Usage
See peep 1.
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
peeksimple
-
peekssimple
-
have peekedperfect
-
has peekedperfect
-
am peekingprogressive
-
are peekingprogressive
-
is peekingprogressive
-
have been peekingperfect progressive
-
has been peekingperfect progressive
Past
-
peekedsimple
-
had peekedperfect
-
was peekingprogressive
-
were peekingprogressive
-
had been peekingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of peek
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English piken (verb); perhaps dissimilated variant of kiken “to look furtively, keek”; see keek
Explanation
When you peek, you take a quick glance at something. It's incredibly tempting when you're little to peek at your birthday presents, but you soon learn how disappointing it is to spoil the surprise. A sneaky look at something is a peek. You might peek at someone if you're shy or you don't want them to catch you looking. You can also describe a glance at a part of something as "a peek" — like when you take a peek at a napping child. Peek comes from piken, a 14th century word meaning "look quickly and slyly." Until the 15th century, the word peek was used interchangeably with keek and peep.
Vocabulary lists containing peek
Some Tricky Homonyms
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Commonly Confused Words, List 3
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"The War of the Wall" by Toni Cade Bambara
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
Through eight flights, 14 days on the road and countless hours in interviews and in the editing room, I got a peek at the moments—both stomach-churning and euphoric—that shaped them.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026
“I want to be able to get higher so I can see him,” he said while craning his neck to get a peek at the billboard.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 8, 2026
“An enchanted hideaway in a coveted location with inviting outdoor retreats and peek a boo views to Downtown Los Angeles create an idyllic setting,” the listing added.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 29, 2026
A peek into the future of restaurant reservations: If you’re making plans for a fancy dinner this weekend, take note: A big “upgrade” is coming to your favorite restaurants—to diners’ detriment.
From Slate ● Jul. 24, 2026
The pharmacy was small and it took one peek to see he wasn’t there.
From "Caterpillar Summer" by Gillian McDunn
A-list stars and directors were on hand to give peeks at what to expect.
From BBC ● Apr. 17, 2026
Jareth peeks at her from between the masked dancers whirling around her, hiding and seeking, smiling gently, for once, as “As the World Falls Down” lilts behind the action.
From Salon ● Jan. 24, 2026
Mui knocks on the door, and a man peeks through the curtains from a window on the ground floor.
From Slate ● Oct. 27, 2025
At last, a sliver of confidence peeks out.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2025
Naomi peeks her head out from the hallway upstairs.
From "Zara’s Rules for Record-Breaking Fun" by Hena Khan
"I peeked up at the screen, saw I had a bit of a gap, and I felt great," added the Edinburgh athlete, who has been racing at Scotstoun since he was a child.
From BBC ● Aug. 1, 2026
As we spoke by phone, Ceballos peeked into his waiting room and said three patients were from the U.S.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 28, 2026
Then the couple peeked into another dealership around the corner.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 21, 2026
The truck lumbered through the forest in the setting sun, stopping at a grove of bigcone Douglas-fir trees, where West and a colleague unloaded the cage, lifted the door and waited as Orange peeked outside.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 17, 2025
He cracked open the door and peeked in.
From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin
Under the scorching heat on Tuesday morning, Torres del Limonar is a shattered mountain of rubble, with mattresses, furniture, and belongings peeking out from the concrete.
From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026
It is a Campbell’s-inspired soup can, lightly angled so strands of broccoli are peeking out.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026
Soon after the start of the Civil War, Church turned the atmospheric effects of a rising sun, striated clouds, and stars peeking through a patch of sky into a tattered Union flag.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 20, 2026
Think Apple watches so you don’t get caught peeking at your phone.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 3, 2026
The robot might look up from the pasture and see Jad peeking around the corner of the barn, or see Jaya spying from the branches of a tree.
From "The Wild Robot Escapes" by Peter Brown
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.
