peekaboo

1 of 2

noun

peek·​a·​boo ˈpē-kə-ˌbü How to pronounce peekaboo (audio)
: a game for amusing a baby by repeatedly hiding one's face or body and popping back into view exclaiming "Peekaboo!"

peekaboo

2 of 2

adjective

1
: trimmed with eyelet embroidery
a peekaboo blouse
2
: made of a sheer or transparent fabric
also : revealing usually small areas of skin
3
: offering only limited display or disclosure especially of a teasing sort
peekaboo publicity

Examples of peekaboo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The Oscar winner isn’t the only one to try out the peekaboo look lately. Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 12 Jan. 2024 But what started as a subtle peekaboo moment is now a little more full-on. Daniel Rodgers, Glamour, 1 Dec. 2023 Baby Adam Driver goes on to spit up milk, try to fit his fist in his mouth, and engage in a game of peekaboo with his teddy bear — all of which terrorizes the passengers around him. Vulture, 10 Dec. 2023 Emma Watson, during a rare appearance on the red carpet this week, made a splash by embracing the underwear-as-outerwear look in a peekaboo bra. Alex Kessler, Vogue, 27 Nov. 2023 Earlier this year, Dua Lipa’s bangs were all up in her eyes at the Cannes Film Festival, and now Kim Kardashian is doing the same with a peekaboo updo that partially hid her face from the camera flash. Kara Nesvig, Allure, 7 Nov. 2023 But Take Note: The canopy doesn’t have a peekaboo viewing window, and a slightly difficult locking mechanism might be a drawback for some parents. Dorian Smith-Garcia, Parents, 27 Sep. 2023 Mama's Night Out After many of the night's nominees had already made their way down the carpet at the Dolby Theatre in L.A., 2023 Oscar nominee Rihanna showed up in style in a peekaboo sheer black Alaïa dress, showcasing her growing baby bump. Alexandra Schonfeld, Peoplemag, 13 Mar. 2023 In the video, Jason showed his son the positive pregnancy test after playing a game of peekaboo with him in his crib. Escher Walcott, Peoplemag, 14 Oct. 2023
Adjective
One of the most popular styles of the moment is peekaboo bangs. Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 9 Feb. 2023 The peekaboo dress also includes a miniskirt with pockets at the hips, layered over maxi-length fabric with an open panel at the back of the legs. Quinci Legardye, Harper's BAZAAR, 29 Oct. 2022 As a foundation piece, Megan wore a sheer jeweled corset bodysuit in shades of pink, yellow, and blue with straps that sliced across her chest for a peekaboo bra cutout detail, while jeweled medallions cascaded down her stomach. Kara Nesvig, Allure, 12 Sep. 2022 The adjacent, downstairs bathroom adds a surprise to the space with its all-over-tonal-blue tile, which offers a peekaboo dose of color to the kitchen. Blake Miller, House Beautiful, 7 Sep. 2021 Take a spin around the new garden in a two-toned ribbed Staud dress and some peekaboo flats from Cult Gaia (the better to climb all those steps!). Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 29 May 2021 Certainly not any of the thousands of people who've tried one of Amazon's best-selling one-piece bathing suits: a monokini with crisscross straps and a peekaboo waist that comes in dozens of colors and prints. Christie Calucchia, Southern Living, 7 Apr. 2021 And like Lipa, another animal had a peekaboo moment: a beautiful horse. Liana Satenstein, Vogue, 12 Dec. 2020 Crochet has the ability to choose loop sizes, meaning that the classic technique can be morphed into something that has more of a saucy, peekaboo effect. Liana Satenstein, Vogue, 17 Aug. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'peekaboo.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

peek entry 1 + boo entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1600, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1895, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of peekaboo was in 1600

Dictionary Entries Near peekaboo

Cite this Entry

“Peekaboo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/peekaboo. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

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