peak
1the pointed top of a mountain or ridge.
a mountain with a pointed summit.
the pointed top of anything.
the highest or most important point or level: the peak of her political career.
the maximum point, degree, or volume of anything: Oil prices reached their peak last year.
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.
the higher fare, charges, etc., during such a period: If you fly during the Christmas holidays, you'll have to pay peak.
Physics.
the maximum value of a quantity during a specified time interval: a voltage peak.
the maximum power consumed or produced by a unit or group of units in a stated period of time.
a projecting point: the peak of a man's beard.
a projecting front piece, or visor, of a cap.
Phonetics. nucleus (def. 8a).
Nautical.
the contracted part of a ship's hull at the bow or the stern.
the upper after corner of a sail that is extended by a gaff.
the outer extremity of a gaff.
to project in a peak.
to attain a peak of activity, development, popularity, etc.: The artist peaked in the 1950s.
Nautical. to raise the after end of (a yard, gaff, etc.) to or toward an angle above the horizontal.
Also on-peak . being at the point of maximum frequency, intensity, use, etc.; busiest or most active: Hotel rooms are most expensive during the peak travel seasons.
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.
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.
Origin of peak
1Other words for peak
Opposites for peak
Other words from peak
- peak·less, adjective
- peak·like, adjective
Words that may be confused with peak
Words Nearby peak
Other definitions for peak (2 of 2)
to become weak, thin, and sickly.
Origin of peak
2Other words from peak
- peakish, adjective
- peak·ish·ly, adverb
- peak·ish·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use peak in a sentence
While many of these novice investors did make large sums of money — at its peak, the stock hit almost 30 times its value from the start of January — many lost out as well.
What Americans Think About The GameStop Investors | Dhrumil Mehta (dhrumil.mehta@fivethirtyeight.com) | February 12, 2021 | FiveThirtyEightPrecipitation should end by mid-morning on Thursday, but it will stay cold, with temperatures peaking in the low-to-mid 30s.
Snow and wintry mix continue overnight, especially north of District | Jason Samenow, Wes Junker, Andrew Freedman | February 11, 2021 | Washington PostThe state’s number of daily vaccinations has dipped slightly this week compared with the last week of January, when it hit a peak of nearly 30,000 vaccinations in one day.
Leaders in Washington region ask FEMA for help in vaccinating federal workers | Julie Zauzmer, Rachel Chason, Rebecca Tan | February 11, 2021 | Washington PostHustler, whose circulation peaked above 2 million in the late 1970s, thumbed its nose at sleeker skin publications such as Playboy and Penthouse.
Larry Flynt, pornographer and self-styled First Amendment champion, dies at 78 | Paul W. Valentine | February 10, 2021 | Washington PostAfter peaking above 1,000 in 2016 and 2017, thefts dipped to just 300 in 2018, but rose again to 542 in 2019.
Bee theft is almost a perfect crime—but there’s a new sheriff in town | Andrew Zaleski | February 9, 2021 | Popular-Science
That was the extent of it during the peak of the flames, and the numbers that swooshed around in the press the next day.
The Fiery Death of Sotto Sotto, Toronto’s Celebrity Hotspot | Shinan Govani | December 30, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTAt its peak, his business made as much as $30,000 a year—provided he worked the entire month of December.
Kerry Bentivolio: The Congressman Who Believes in Santa Claus | Ben Jacobs | December 24, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTAt his year-end, pre-Hawaii press conference, we caught a rare glimpse of peak Obama.
The Liberation of the Lame Duck: Obama Goes Full Bulworth | John Avlon | December 19, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe series came to life just as the era of “hatewatching” was at its peak.
'The Newsroom' Ended As It Began: Weird, Controversial, and Noble | Kevin Fallon | December 15, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTFollowing a peak of 153 new cases a week in August, Lofa was down to just four new cases for the week ending Nov. 1.
Three days later he was in Switzerland, and a few days later again he was on the summit of a minor but still difficult peak.
Uncanny Tales | VariousThe Hope lay safely moored, with her ensign at the peak, and flying the distinguished flag of the firm.
Skipper Worse | Alexander Lange KiellandWe passed a heap of black ashes, which anywhere but at the base of the peak would be called a respectable mountain.
Journal of a Voyage to Brazil | Maria GrahamThe peak District in Derbyshire we omitted for the same reason—a previous visit.
British Highways And Byways From A Motor Car | Thomas D. MurphyThe ice is procured from a large cavern near the cone of the peak; it is almost full of the finest ice all the year round.
Journal of a Voyage to Brazil | Maria Graham
British Dictionary definitions for peak
/ (piːk) /
a pointed end, edge, or projection: the peak of a roof
the pointed summit of a mountain
a mountain with a pointed summit
the point of greatest development, strength, etc: the peak of his career
a sharp increase in a physical quantity followed by a sharp decrease: a voltage peak
the maximum value of this quantity
(as modifier): peak voltage
Also called: visor a projecting piece on the front of some caps
See widow's peak
the pointed end of a beard
nautical
the extreme forward (forepeak) or aft (afterpeak) part of the hull
(of a fore-and-aft quadrilateral sail) the after uppermost corner
the after end of a gaff
(tr) nautical to set (a gaff) or tilt (oars) vertically
to form or reach or cause to form or reach a peak or maximum
of or relating to a period of highest use or demand, as for watching television, commuting, etc: peak viewing hours; peak time
Origin of peak
1Derived forms of peak
- peaky or peakish, adjective
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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