peek

[ peek ]

verb (used without object)

1. to look or glance quickly or furtively, especially through a small opening or from a concealed location; peep; peer.

noun

1. a quick or furtive look or glance; peep.

peek

/ piːk /

verb

1. intr to glance quickly or furtively; peep

noun

1. a quick or furtive glance

Word History and Origins

Origin of peek¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English piken (verb); perhaps dissimilated variant of kiken “to look furtively, keek”; keek

Word History and Origins

Origin of peek¹

C14 pike, related to Middle Dutch kiken to peek

Synonym Study

See peep ¹.

Example Sentences

Hell, we may even take a peek at the original pitch deck that made it all happen.

From TechCrunch

As we wait for its annual report for 2020, its year in review offers a sneak peek into how Carbon grew the past year.

From TechCrunch

Take a peek below the surface and learn more about the various forms of wildlife we rarely get to see.

From Popular-Science

Even if you can’t dine inside at the moment, you should at least see the 1936 facade and take a peek at the bar.

From Washington Post

To get users interested, they also provide a sneak peek into the findings in the next series of Stories.

From Search Engine Watch

Tickets go on sale to the public January 15; check back then for a link and an early peek at the inspiring lineup of speakers.

From The Daily Beast

The pyramids of Meroe await a day when stability will allow outsiders to peek at a forgotten ancient kingdom.

From The Daily Beast

As such, they allow us a peek at the chemistry before the planets and moons evolved into what we know them as today.

From The Daily Beast

To track your light exposure and progress, simply take a peek at the 10 LED lights attached to the face of the device.

From The Daily Beast

Check out a sneak peek of one of the most anticipated films of the year.

From The Daily Beast

In fact, if we should peek in the back of the camera, and to do so would ruin the exposure, we could not even see it.

From Project Gutenberg

So, at first, he could be almost casual about what he saw in the peek box.

From Project Gutenberg

Even the most reckless of gambling junkmen could not be expected to dare much of an investment in such a peek-a-boo game as that.

From Project Gutenberg

When the doorbell rang, half an hour later, Mr. Fielding was on his hands and knees playing "peek-boo!"

From Project Gutenberg

I used to peek through under to see the little one in the straw, and wonder what things swaddling clothes were.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• glance
• peep
• snoop

Peek vs. Peak vs. Pique

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.

Quiz yourself on peek vs. peak vs. pique!

Should peek, peak, or pique be used in the following sentence?

I can’t stay for long—I just want to take a quick _____ inside.