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:
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
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
As the sun dips below the horizon, a fleet of onlookers on jet skis and boats idle on the water to catch a peek of the vivacious scene.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026
At a time when bills are going up, however, credit scores can offer a peek at what’s happening at different income levels.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 13, 2026
I chanced a wan peek out of the flounce.
From "Secrets at Sea" by Richard Peck
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
The sun peeks across the horizon, shading the world gray as dawn approaches.
From "Dread Nation" by Justina Ireland
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
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
The truck lumbered through the forest in the setting sun, stopping at a grove of bigcone Douglas-fir trees, where West and a colleague unloaded the cage, lifted the door and waited as Orange peeked outside.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 17, 2025
Standing on the shoulders of another digger, he punched through the top layer of soil and peeked above the grass.
From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin
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
Some had trees growing through fallen roofs, one had a wasp nest peeking out the window, and many had red diamonds indicating they were at risk of collapse.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 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
Because I knew to look for it, I saw the faint surgical scar peeking above the neckline of the child’s dress.
From Slate ● Mar. 29, 2026
Others began peeking from the earth, dotting the soil in gray and pink and blue.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
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.
