peekaboo

[ peek-uh-boo ]

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!”

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

/ ˈpiːkəˌbuː /

noun

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

adjective

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of peekaboo¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of peekaboo¹

C16: from peek + boo

Example Sentences

There is nothing new, of course, about Republicans playing fascist peekaboo, where they signal support for authoritarian views, and then pretend they did nothing of the sort when called out for it.

From Salon

Babies love playing peekaboo, continuing to react even on the tenth sudden appearance of their partner in the game.

From Science Daily

Almost every look from SS19 was a wearable game of peekaboo.

From Los Angeles Times

Wilson stages one nicely claustrophobic scene inside an M.R.I. machine, but his peekaboo shocks can be a little telegraphed.

From New York Times

I was drawn to the fanciful clothing — things like rope-yarn tops and peekaboo rower shorts — that were a universe removed from my fat boy pants.

From New York Times