peep

1
[ peep ]
See synonyms for peep on Thesaurus.com
verb (used without object)
  1. to look through a small opening or from a concealed location.

  2. to look slyly, pryingly, or furtively.

  1. to look curiously or playfully.

  2. to come partially into view; begin to appear: the first crocuses peeping through the snow-covered ground.

verb (used with object)
  1. to show or protrude slightly.

noun
  1. a quick or furtive look or glance.

  2. the first appearance, as of dawn.

  1. an aperture for looking through.

Origin of peep

1
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English pepe; assimilated variant of peek

synonym study For peep

1, 2. Peep, peek, peer mean to look through, over, or around something. To peep or peek is usually to give a quick look through a narrow aperture or small opening, often furtively, slyly, or pryingly, or to look over or around something curiously or playfully: to peep over a wall; to peek into a room. Peek is often associated with children's games. To peer is to look continuously and narrowly for some time, especially in order to penetrate obscurity or to overcome some obstacle in the way of vision: The firefighter peered through the smoke.

Words Nearby peep

Other definitions for peep (2 of 3)

peep2
[ peep ]

noun
  1. a short, shrill little cry or sound, as of a young bird; cheep; squeak.

  2. any of various small sandpipers.

  1. a slight sound or remark, especially in complaint: I don't want to hear a peep out of any of you!

verb (used without object)
  1. to utter the short, shrill little cry of a young bird, a mouse, etc.; cheep; squeak.

  2. to speak in a thin, weak voice.

Origin of peep

2
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English pepen, pipen; compare Dutch, German piepen, Old French piper, Latin pipāre, Greek pippízein, Czech pípat, Lithuanian pỹpti, all ultimately of imitative origin

Other definitions for peep (3 of 3)

peep3
[ peep ]

noun

Origin of peep

3
An Americanism dating back to 1940–45; apparently alteration of Jeep

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use peep in a sentence

  • No notice being taken of the taps, the unseen visitor, after a short lapse, ventured to open the door and peep in.

  • No doubt, even in these choking circumstances, childish feeling may now and again peep out.

    Children's Ways | James Sully
  • Yuh want t' keep your eye glued t' that peep-glass in the mornin', and not overlook no motions.

    Raw Gold | Bertrand W. Sinclair
  • Every hundred yards or so I had a close peep at the ground in front through de Lisle's periscope.

  • "I was watching you through my little peep-hole—as you saw," he began, with a pleasant smile, advancing to shake hands.

    Three More John Silence Stories | Algernon Blackwood

British Dictionary definitions for peep (1 of 2)

peep1

/ (piːp) /


verb(intr)
  1. to look furtively or secretly, as through a small aperture or from a hidden place

  2. to appear partially or briefly: the sun peeped through the clouds

noun
  1. a quick or furtive look

  2. the first appearance: the peep of dawn

Origin of peep

1
C15: variant of peek

British Dictionary definitions for peep (2 of 2)

peep2

/ (piːp) /


verb(intr)
  1. (esp of young birds) to utter shrill small noises

  2. to speak in a thin shrill voice

noun
  1. a peeping sound

  2. US any of various small sandpipers of the genus Calidris (or Erolia) and related genera, such as the pectoral sandpiper

Origin of peep

2
C15: of imitative origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with peep

peep

see hear a peep out of.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.