peek
Americanverb (used without object)
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peeks,
present (3rd person singular)
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peeked,
past participle, past
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peeking
present participle
noun
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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
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peeksimple
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peekssimple
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have peekedperfect
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has peekedperfect
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am peekingprogressive
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are peekingprogressive
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is peekingprogressive
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have been peekingperfect progressive
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has been peekingperfect progressive
Past
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peekedsimple
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had peekedperfect
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was peekingprogressive
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were peekingprogressive
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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
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Commonly Confused Words, List 3
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"The War of the Wall" by Toni Cade Bambara
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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:
There's a bravery award in her name on the wall, and a peek in her diary reveals a series of appointments, meetings and to-do lists.
From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026
Twenty-one years later, Lieberman revealed the truth in what proved to be an early peek at the current state of affairs in high school basketball.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 23, 2026
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
“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
She longed to take a peek, but alas, because of his pirate oath, his work must be done in secret.
From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood
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
Only 6 miles from Taliesin, another wonder peeks out of the hills: the House on the Rock.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 3, 2025
And he had to admit, he liked Hoede’s house, too, the few peeks he’d managed through the windows.
From "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo
Donchatz and her sister peeked into the cabin, pausing at the many original family treasures on display.
From Barron's ● Aug. 26, 2026
"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
Employees peeked through a wrought-iron gate as former Noma head of fermentation Jason Ignacio White read a letter decrying Redzepi.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 13, 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
Jonah didn’t hear the door open and close, but when he peeked out, the man was gone.
From "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
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
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
The only flash of color was her green V-neck union T-shirt, the logo peeking out of a black blazer.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 18, 2026
Like peeking at the guts of the iPhone, it was the first glimpse of something before anyone knew what it could be.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 3, 2026
I glance at Tano’s desk to see Autumn and Ama peeking over it.
From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer
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.
