leaf peeper

noun

US
: a person who visits wooded areas in autumn to view the changing colors of the foliage
Leaf peepers in northern Maine will find more orange blazing in the forestlands than they might have found in previous years …Down East
leaf-peeping noun US
… Woodstock, Vermont—one of New England's prettiest towns and a prime destination for fall leaf peeping. Danielle Pergament

Examples of leaf peeper in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Fall colors season is underway in Arizona, and leaf peepers will rejoice at the red, yellow and orange hues bursting from the trees in northern and eastern parts of the state with higher elevations. Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 9 Oct. 2025 Beyond the Blue Ridge Mountains, leaf peepers hoping to take in a cascade of color should consider road trips along the Green Mountain Byway in Vermont, to New York's Finger Lakes region, along the Pacific Coast Highway in California, on the Pacific Coast in Oregon, and more. Kristine Hansen, Travel + Leisure, 6 Oct. 2025 Georgetown reopened to traffic from Interstate 70 after a flood of leaf peepers caused gridlock throughout the mountain community, bringing traffic on all roads to a standstill. Katie Langford, Denver Post, 27 Sep. 2025 This fall, New England’s famous foliage show may not last as long as leaf peepers hope. Viola Flowers, NBC news, 20 Sep. 2025 Shenandoah County, Virginia Every fall, leaf peepers flock to Skyline Drive to admire Shenandoah National Park’s colorful foliage. Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 19 Sep. 2025 Virginia is most certainly for (fall) lovers, and Shenandoah National Park pops with color each fall, drawing leaf peepers, campers, and rock climbers to explore the park. Brittany Anas, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025 Autumn brings leaf peepers seeking the intoxicating colors of fall foliage, and in the winter, there’s even ice fishing. Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 15 Jan. 2025 Calling all wildflower wanderers, leaf peepers, and winter hiking warriors: 2025 is here. Erica Zazo, Outside Online, 9 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1965, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of leaf peeper was in 1965

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Cite this Entry

“Leaf peeper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leaf%20peeper. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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