Peek
/piːk/
nounverbA2
Definition
Peek is the action of looking quickly and quietly at something, often because you want to see without being noticed. As a noun, a peek is a quick or secret look. People peek when they are curious but want to stay hidden or not interrupt.
Was this helpful?
See It in Action
Verb: To look quickly or secretly at something
- •She peeked through the window to see who was outside.
- •Don’t peek at your birthday presents before the party.
- •The cat peeked around the corner to watch the birds.
Noun: A quick or secret look
- •He took a quick peek at the test answers.
- •Just a peek at the new movie trailer made me excited.
- •The child took a peek inside the gift box.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of 'peek' like 'look,' but very fast and quiet, like a small secret glance
- ✓Picture a child looking through a small hole in a door to see a surprise without being seen
- ✓It's the feeling of excitement or curiosity when you want to see something but must be careful
- ✓Sounds like 'peek' → imagine a small bird quickly looking out from a nest before hiding again
- ✓Think of the game 'peek-a-boo,' where someone hides and then quickly shows their face for fun
- ✓NOT like 'stare' (long and fixed look), peek is very short and often secret
- ✓NOT like 'glance' (quick look but not secret), peek often means you try not to be seen
- ✓NOT like 'watch' (looking for a long time), peek is very brief and fast
Try Other Words
- •Glance: a quick look (Use when the look is fast but not secret or hidden)
- •Peekaboo: a playful quick look game (Use in playful or child contexts)
- •Spy: to secretly watch or look (Use when the look is more serious or longer)
- •Peep: a quick secret look, similar to peek (Use interchangeably, but 'peep' can sound more childish)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: single root 'peek' with no prefix or suffix
- •Etymology: From Middle English 'piken' or 'peken,' meaning to look quickly
- •Historical development: Used since the 1400s to describe quick or secret looks
- •Modern usage: Common in everyday speech for quick or secret looks, also in phrases like 'take a peek'
Reflect & Connect
•When is it okay or not okay to peek at something? How do you decide?
•How does the feeling of peeking change if you are caught or if no one notices?
Fill in the blanks
1.She peeked through the curtains because she wanted to ___ who was outside.
2.When you peek at a surprise gift, you often feel ___ but also a little guilty.
3.A peek is different from a stare because it is ___ and usually secret.
4.Children often play games where they ___ quickly and then hide again.
5.People usually peek ___ when they do not want others to know they are looking.
6.After he took a quick peek, he ___ back to avoid being seen.
7.If you peek too long, you might ___ someone’s privacy or trust.