Definition

1. Noun:

   • A quick, secret, or furtive look: A "peek" is a brief glance, often taken secretly or cautiously, as if trying to see something without being noticed.

2. Verb:

   • To look quickly, secretly, or furtively: To "peek" means to take a brief, often stealthy look at something, typically by looking from behind or around something else.

Usage and Examples

• Noun:

  • He took a quick peek at the birthday presents hidden in the closet.
  • She stole a peek at the answer key on the teacher's desk.

• Verb:

  • The child peeked through the keyhole to see what was happening.
  • Don't peek while I'm wrapping your gift!

Advanced Usage

• "to get/have a peek at (something)": to manage to see something briefly, often something not meant to be seen.

  • The reporter managed to get a peek at the confidential document.

• "to peek out": to become just visible by looking out from behind something.

  • The sun peeked out from behind the clouds.

Variants and Related Words

• Peekaboo (n): A game played with a young child, in which one hides one's face and then suddenly reveals it, saying "peekaboo!"
• Peeker (n): (Informal) One who peeks.

Synonyms

• Glance (n/v): A brief or hurried look.
• Glimpse (n/v): A momentary or partial view.
• Peer (v): To look keenly or with difficulty.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Peek in/into: To look quickly inside something.

  • He peeked into the room to see if it was empty.

• Peek over: To look quickly over the top of something.

  • The student peeked over her book to see the time.

Related Idioms

• A sneak peek: An opportunity to see something before it is officially available or public.
  • The director gave us a sneak peek of the new movie trailer.

Noun

1. a secret look

Verb

1. throw a glance at; take a brief look at
   • She only glanced at the paper
   • I only peeked--I didn't see anything interesting