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:
Watching “That Thing You Do!” climbing the charts throughout the movie is a peek into an alien musical world, one that was both more regional and more monocultural than the one we inhabit today.
From Salon ● Oct. 4, 2026
Since settling into the home, Biles has offered several glimpses inside the lavish property—including a peek at their luxurious bedroom, which was designed to evoke the feeling of a five-star hotel.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 28, 2026
One peek inside wardrobe stylist and art director Morgan Jordan’s apartment in Glendale, and it’s clear she is not afraid of paint.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026
John and Laura Overdeck’s divorce is giving the world a peek into the lives of the ultrarich, and the breadth of the onetime couple’s enormous wealth at stake in a New Jersey courthouse.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026
A bushy plant partially obscured the entrance into Dr. Achebe’s office, allowing Coal to peek through.
From "Boy 2.0" by Tracey Baptiste
At some point, Silva peeks into the bushes and orders Garcia several times to come out with his hands up and to stop touching his bags.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 22, 2026
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
A bit of sun peeks out behind a mountain and reflects in the ocean.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 30, 2025
Scrap, of all people, peeks into the greenroom.
From "On the Come Up" by Angie Thomas
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
Then the couple peeked into another dealership around the corner.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 21, 2026
But when the line grew long, the performers peeked out in horror, and the audience kindly let them cut to the front.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 27, 2025
Cat peeked over her shoulder and saw Walt and Luis talking.
From "Caterpillar Summer" by Gillian McDunn
I’m highlighting a collaboration that shows how in tune she was with every generation and peeking at a few of my favorite covers.
From Salon ● Aug. 29, 2026
“I am not good around other people,” she said, peeking out of a gray tent underneath the 110 Freeway.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 14, 2026
The drama which Rory McIlroy has produced at the Masters over the years - the type that left his fans peeking through their fingers - is woven into the fabric of his story.
From BBC ● Apr. 11, 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 sketched the buds peeking from the berry bushes.
From "Willodeen" by Katherine Applegate
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
