What does peek mean?
Peek means to take a quick, often secret or incomplete look at something. A person might peek through a window, peer around a doorway, or briefly glance at a message before it is delivered. The related noun "a peek" means the glance itself: "She took one last peek at the empty stage." The word is informal but familiar in British and American English and commonly conveys curiosity or playful furtiveness. It can also suggest that the viewer sees only part of what is available, as in peeking through a narrow opening. This makes it especially useful for describing brief, indirect, or concealed observation rather than sustained or careful examination.
To look quickly or briefly, especially through a small opening or from a concealed position.
"He peeked over the fence to see whether the gate was open."
The verb is standard in informal and neutral contexts. It can imply curiosity, secrecy, or seeing only a small part of something.
A quick or furtive glance at something.
"The photographer asked for a quick peek at the portrait before the exhibition opened."
The plural is used for separate quick or furtive glances.
"She managed several peeks at the surprise gift before opening it."
A peek is a tiny act of curiosity: one eye, one quick glance, and often a whole story.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does peek come from?
The word appears in the sixteenth century in the forms "piken" and "peken," meaning "to look" or "to peer." Its precise origin is uncertain, although it has often been linked to Middle Dutch "piken," meaning to look slyly or peek. The modern sense developed from the older idea of looking closely or furtively.
Related word forms
How peek is actually used
The word is informal but widely accepted in both British and American English. It often suggests curiosity, concealment, or an incomplete view. In phrases such as "peek at," it can be neutral, although contexts involving privacy or inappropriate looking may give it a comic or disapproving tone.
Easily confused with peek
Peek means to take a quick or concealed look, whereas a peak is the highest point of a mountain, graph, or similar structure.