peekaboo

American  

[peek-uh-boo] / ˈpik əˌbu /

noun

1. Also called bo-peep.  a game played by or with very young children, typically in which one covers the face or hides and then suddenly uncovers the face or reappears, calling “Peekaboo!”

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adjective

1. Clothing.

   1. decorated with openwork.

   2. made of a sheer and revealing material, as some blouses for women.

2. appearing briefly and then vanishing, or promising to appear but failing to do so.

   the fluctuating response of the stock market to a peekaboo economic recovery.

peekaboo British  

/ ˈpiːkəˌbuː /

noun

1. a game for young children, in which one person hides his face and suddenly reveals it and cries "peekaboo."

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adjective

1. (of a garment) made of fabric that is almost transparent or patterned with small holes

Etymology

Origin of peekaboo

1590–1600; peek + -a- connective + boo ¹

Explanation

Peekaboo is a simple game you play with babies and toddlers by hiding your face, then quickly uncovering it. Peekaboo is a good way to make a baby laugh. When you play peekaboo, you cover your face or hide behind a barrier for a few moments, then reveal yourself again to the baby and say, "Peekaboo!" A variation on peekaboo is a hiding and revealing game in which you say, "Where's the baby?" and then "There's the baby!" Peekaboo is fun because babies are generally interested and amused by it, and it's good for the development of their cognitive — or thinking — skills.

Example Sentences

The crowd appeared delighted to see that many of the viral dances from that performance had made it to the tour, with the choreography during the track Peekaboo providing maximum entertainment.

From BBC • Jul. 22, 2025

An April snowstorm forced officials to move a show by dubstep producer Peekaboo indoors to another venue.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 22, 2023

Peekaboo is one of just three comparatively nearby galaxies that astronomers have found to be extremely metal-poor—and at 22 million light-years away, it's by far the closest, making it favorable for further study.

From Scientific American • Mar. 24, 2023

And there’s cauliflower in chocolate ice cream — yes, ice cream — by Peekaboo, a company that hides veggies in every pint.

From Washington Post • Jul. 6, 2018

The Peekaboo is the only friend the mosquito has on earth.

From The Silly Syclopedia by Lott, Noah [pseud.]