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Showing results for peckish. Search instead for peakish.
Synonyms

peckish

American  
[pek-ish] / ˈpɛk ɪʃ /

adjective

Chiefly British Informal.

  1. somewhat hungry.

    By noon we were feeling a bit peckish.

  2. rather irritable.

    He's always a bit peckish after his nap.
peckish British  
/ ˈpɛkɪʃ /

adjective

  1. informal feeling slightly hungry; having an appetite

"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

Etymology

Origin of peckish

First recorded in 1775–85; peck 1 + -ish 1

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.

Rescuers then realised that along with climbing equipment, Wotsits were needed - the lunchbox staple to which the peckish parrot was partial.

From BBC • Jul. 11, 2023

Still, the book’s vibe makes it pleasant company for an afternoon in the park with a snack, though it will still leave you feeling peckish.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 3, 2023

Using infrared sensors, the team watched which landing platforms the peckish mosquitoes chose.

From Science Magazine • May 18, 2023

I arrived peckish and beelined for Doc Morgan’s Pub & Restaurant, which spills onto a lawn fronting the Union Steamship Marina.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 3, 2022

“Of course I did,” I snapped, not meaning to adopt my aunt’s peckish ways.

From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan

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.