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

And last month, L.A. residents got a sneak peek at what that could look like at a generative AI film competition in Culver City.

From Los Angeles Times

Let’s pretend you just had a restful night’s sleep in your tent in your favorite campground, and as the sun’s rays start to peek through the pines, you think, “Mmm, coffee.”

From Los Angeles Times

But Judge appeared to peek at the runner at the last second and missed it, the ball clanking off his glove and kicking to his right.

From Los Angeles Times

In recent weeks, the quietude of this affluent Beverly Hills neighborhood has been filled with the buzzing of tourists and true crime fanatics all swarming to peek at the infamous Menendez mansion on Elm Drive — where two brothers murdered their parents in 1989.

From Los Angeles Times

The show gave viewers a peek into what 30 days on a deserted island would be like and, for some, may have sparked a survivalism bug.

From Slate

Related Words

• glance
• peep
• snoop