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Definition of peek verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

peek

verb
 
/piːk/
 
/piːk/
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they peek
 
/piːk/
 
/piːk/
he / she / it peeks
 
/piːks/
 
/piːks/
past simple peeked
 
/piːkt/
 
/piːkt/
past participle peeked
 
/piːkt/
 
/piːkt/
-ing form peeking
 
/ˈpiːkɪŋ/
 
/ˈpiːkɪŋ/
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  1. [intransitive] to look at something quickly and secretly because you should not be looking at it synonym peep
    • No peeking!
    • + adv./prep. She peeked at the audience from behind the curtain.
    • I couldn't resist peeking in the drawer.
    Homophones peak | peek | piquepeak   peek   pique
     
    /piːk/
     
    /piːk/
    • peak noun
      • Mount McKinley is the highest peak in North America.
    • peak verb
      • Inflation is expected to peak in December.
    • peek verb
      • I have to peek out from behind a cushion when watching horror films.
    • peek noun
      • She sneaked a peek at her watch.
    • pique noun
      • He smashed his racket in a fit of pique.
    • pique verb
      • He knew the cutting remark would pique his friend's vanity.
    Extra Examples
    • Daniel peeked cautiously over his shoulder.
    • He peeked out from behind the door.
    • I wandered around the house, peeking into various rooms.
    • I was tempted to peek around the corner.
    • She peeked at the clock to see the time.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • cautiously
    • out
    preposition
    • around
    • at
    • into
    See full entry
  2. [intransitive] peek out/over/through, etc. to be just able to be seen
    • Her feet peeked out from the end of the blanket.
    • A toe peeked through the hole in his sock.
    • The sun was peeking through the clouds.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • cautiously
    • out
    preposition
    • around
    • at
    • into
    See full entry
  3. Word Originlate Middle English pike, pyke, of unknown origin.
See peek in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

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