sneak peek

American

[sneek peek] / ˈsnik ˈpik /

noun

Informal.

a brief, exclusive, or illicit chance to see or experience something, especially something that will later be officially released to the public.

The auto designers have released a sneak peek into their latest model, a one-of-a-kind custom build.
Viewers were treated to some TV and movie sneak peeks during the big game's commercial breaks.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

sneak peeks

plural

Etymology

Origin of sneak peek

First recorded in 1940–45

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.

During a late April afternoon at McDonald’s headquarters in Chicago, the company invited a few dozen social-media influencers for a sneak peek at its new beverage lineup rolling out this spring and summer.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 13, 2026

Sony Pictures Entertainment kicked off CinemaCon on Monday with a sneak peek of "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" and a new installment of "Jumanji".

From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026

In the sneak peek, Cyrus wears a Hannah Montana-style outfit and visits sets re-created from the original show — including the Stewart family living room and Hannah’s rotating closet — saying, “I’m already getting emotional.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 10, 2026

In one message McCullagh said "right I'm off to stream the night away", to which she replied: "Good luck, might have a sneak peek later."

From BBC • Feb. 25, 2026

“I can’t lie. I have never been good at it. Oh dear, okay. A quick sneak peek, but no more. And you tell no one of this. Got it?”

From "Witchlings" by Claribel A. Ortega

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023