Definition of 'peek'
Word forms: 3rd person singular present
tense peeks
, present participle peeking
, past tense, past participle peeked
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word Frequency
peek in American English
verb intransitive
1.
to glance or look quickly and furtively, esp. through an opening or from behind something
noun
2.
such a glance
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word origin
ME piken < ?
Word Frequency
peek in American English
(pik)
intransitive verb
noun
2.
a quick or furtive look or glance; peep
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Word origin
[1325–75; ME piken (v.); perh. dissimilated var. of kiken to keek]Examples of 'peek' in a sentence
peek
These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…
Trends of
peek
View usage for:
In other languages
peek
British English: peek
VERB /piːk/
If you peek at something or someone, you have a quick look at them, often secretly.
On two occasions she had peeked at him through a crack in the wall.
- American English: peek /ˈpik/
- Brazilian Portuguese: bisbilhotar
- Chinese: 瞥一眼常指偷偷地
- European Spanish: mirar a hurtadillas
- French: jeter un coup d'œil
- German: schauen auf
- Italian: dare una sbirciata
- Japanese: ちらっとのぞく
- Korean: 엿보다
- European Portuguese: bisbilhotar
- Latin American Spanish: espiar
- Thai: แอบมอง, มองตามช่อง
Browse alphabetically
peek
Related terms of
peek
Source
Definition of peek from the Collins English Dictionary
Quick word challenge
Quiz Review
Question: 1
-
Score: 0 / 5
lead or led?
Which version is correct?
pail or pale?
Which version is correct?
larva or lava?
Drag the correct answer into the box.
lava
larva
Rivers of flowed down the volcano.
weather or whether?
Drag the correct answer into the box.
weather
whether
Fishing is possible in virtually any .
flew or flu?
Which version is correct?
Your score:
Word of the day
blogosphere
In computer technology , the blogosphere or the blogsphere is all the weblogs on the internet, considered collectively.
Latest Word Submissions
A little bird told me… 7 animal idioms
It’s new words time at Collins Dictionary and this month we see the addition of words like fingerling, net zero and emotional support animal. This month, there were a few animal-related additions.
Read more
9 new words added to Collins Dictionary
Here are nine words recently added to Collins English Dictionary online. The words we use reflect the preoccupations of our time, and with the possibility of holidays and travel returning to the agenda, the dictionary welcomes ‘capsule hotel’, ‘tourist tax’, and the American informal shortening ‘vacay’ (from ‘vacation’).
Read more
New Conversations Day
The twelfth of July marks New Conversations Day. If you haven’t heard of it, don’t fret or feel afflicted by FOMO, for this is the first such day – ever.
Read more
Collins English Dictionary Apps
Download our English Dictionary apps - available for both iOS and Android.
Read more
Collins Dictionaries for Schools
Our new online dictionaries for schools provide a safe and appropriate environment for children. And best of all it's ad free, so sign up now and start using at home or in the classroom.
Read more
Word lists
We have almost 200 lists of words from topics as varied as types of butterflies, jackets, currencies, vegetables and knots!
Amaze your friends with your new-found knowledge!
Read more
Join the Collins community
All the latest wordy news, linguistic insights, offers and competitions every month.
Read more
Quick word challenge
Quiz Review
Question: 1
-
Score: 0 / 5
groan or grown?
Which version is correct?
bloc or block?
Which version is correct?
cornflour or cornflower?
Drag the correct answer into the box.
cornflour
cornflower
Blend the with a little milk.
paw or pour?
Which version is correct?
broke or broken?
Which version is correct?
Your score: