Peek vs. Peak vs. Pique – How to Use Each Correctly
What’s the Difference Between Peek, Peak, and Pique?
Contents
Peek, peak, and pique are homophones, which means that they have the same pronunciation but different meanings.
Peek can be either a verb or a noun that means to look at something quickly or in a secretive manner.
- The child tried to peek inside his Christmas presents before he was allowed to open them.
Peak can also be either a verb that means to reach the highest point or a noun that means the highest point.
- It is very difficult to reach the peak of Mount Everest.
Pique can act as a noun that means a feeling of irritation caused by injured pride or a verb that means to irritate, wound, or excite.
Now that you know the differences between these three words, let’s look at them in context to ensure you don’t confuse them.
Using Peek in a Sentence
When to use peek: Peek can act as either a noun or a verb that refers to looking at something in a fast or furtive manner.
For example,
- Close your eyes while I get your surprise ready. Don’t peek!
- The burglar peeked through the windows to make sure no one was home before robbing the house.
When peek acts as a verb, it often appears with a preposition in the phrases peek at, peek in, peek out, or peek over.
This shows either where the person is looking, or from where the person is looking. A popular expression using peek is sneak a peek, which has the same meaning as the verb peek. Likewise, a sneak peek is getting a preview of something before its premiere.
Using Peak in a Sentence
When to use peak: Peak can also act as either a noun or a verb. As a noun, it most often refers to the pointed top of a mountain. However, it can also refer to the highest point of other objects. As a verb, it means to reach the highest amount or level. Sometimes it also appears as an adjective with the same meaning.
- To reach the peak of the mountain, you must have all the necessary supplies. (noun)
- That actor’s career peaked in the late 1980’s. (verb)
- It’s best to avoid traveling to Costa Rica during peak tourist season, because the hotels are more expensive and the tours are more crowded. (adjective)
There are a couple of expressions that use peak:
- widow’s peak: a point formed by the hairline along a person’s forehead which people used to believe meant the person would become a widow early in life
- Some people’s hair forms a widow’s peak, which is a genetic trait.
- peaked: tired and wan
- You look a little peaked. Are you ill? You should eat something and rest a little.
Peak can refer to either a physical or abstract object.
Using Pique in a Sentence
When to use pique: Pique can also act as either a noun or a verb. As a noun, it means a negative feeling caused by wounded pride. As a verb, it means to wound someone’s pride, to excite, or to cause another strong emotion.
- Don’t bother him right now. He’s in a pique and will only yell at you. (noun)
- I heard something that piqued my interest. (verb)
Pique is used in one common phrase: to pique your interest. Sometimes, this is also said as pique your curiosity. This phrase mean to raise or stimulate someone’ interest.
- I was bored during the first half of your speech, but the ending piqued my interest.
When pique is used as a noun, it appears in the expression in a pique.
Remembering Peek vs. Peak vs. Pique
The spelling of peek, peak, and pique can act as a mnemonic device to help you to remember which word has which meaning.
Peek has two of the letter e, just like the word eye. This can help remind you that peek is something you do with your eyes. Also, each e can even look like an eye, peering at you from the word peek.
Peak has the vowels ea just like the word feat. To reach the top of a mountain, or any other kind of peak, is a big feat.
Finally, pique is the only word of the three with the letter i. Because irritate also contains an i, this can help remind you that to pique someone is to irritate that person.
Outside Examples
- Although he offered few details in his sneak-peek Instagram post — “More in the days to follow,” a brief message promises — the tech billionaire, who is also chief executive of automaker Tesla, indicated that his spacesuit is functional and tested to withstand pressure loss while traveling through space. –Chicago Tribune
- Until then, a sneak peek: exclusive photos of preparation inside the room where it happens, the Hollywood Pantages Theatre. –LA Times
- We’ve officially reached peak unicorn trend. But is it here to stay?–USA Today
- The peak planned flow coming out of Addicks is expected to happen on Aug. 31, when 4,500 cubic feet per second are expected to pour out of the dam. –Houston Chronicle
- Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan drove the bargain here. Partly from principle (he believes in charters), but primarily from pique (sticking it to the mayor), he made raising the cap on the number of charter schools in New York City his price for the renewal of mayoral control. –New York Daily News
- “In a fit of pique he decides to do something about Kim Jong Un, there’s actually very little to stop him,” Clapper said. “The whole system is built to ensure rapid response if necessary. So there’s very little in the way of controls over exercising a nuclear option, which is pretty damn scary.” –New York Post
Quiz: Peak vs. Peek vs. Pique
Instructions: Fill in the blank with the correct word, either peak or peek or pique, in the correct form.
- The amount of traffic usually _______________ around 4PM in this part of the city.
- The bird ____________ out of its nest and looked for predators.
- It ______________ her when no one invited her to the party.
See answers below.
Article Summary
Should I use peek or peak or pique? These words all sound exactly the same, but there is no overlap in meaning.
- Peek involves looking at something quickly or furtively.
- Peak is synonymous with the highest point of a mountain or other thing.
- Pique can mean to irritate or to arouse interest or curiosity.
Despite the identical pronunciations, it is important not to confuse these three words.
Answers
- peaks
- peeked
- piqued