peak

noun \ ˈpēk \

|Updated on: 14 Jul 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: peak in a Sentence

Editor's Note: peek vs. peak vs. pique

Definition of peak

1 : a pointed or projecting part of a garment; especially : the visor of a cap or hat

The cap's peak shades his eyes.

2 : promontory

a steep rocky peak

3 : a sharp or pointed end

the peak of a roof

4 a (1) : the top of a hill or mountain ending in a point

the fog hung … heavily on the peak of the hill
—H. D. Skidmore

(2) : a prominent mountain usually having a well-defined summit

b : something resembling a mountain peak

Beat the cream until it forms stiff peaks.

5 a : the upper aftermost corner of a fore-and-aft sail

b : the narrow part of a ship's bow or stern or the part of the hold in it

6 a : the highest level or greatest degree

a singer at the peak of her popularity

b : a high point in a course of development especially as represented on a graph

The graph shows that murders in the city reached a peak two years ago.

7 : widow's peak

See peak defined for English-language learners

See peak defined for kids

Examples of peak in a Sentence

a line of rocky peaks
the peak of the roof
The recipe says to beat the cream until it forms soft peaks.
At her peak she was writing a new novel every year.
Violence reached a peak just before the election.
The graph shows that murders in the city declined from a peak of 173 in 2004.

Recent Examples of peak from the Web

Your creativity peaks with regard to improving your life.

— BostonGlobe.com, "Horoscope," 9 July 2018
At the same time, gang crime has sharply declined since its peak in the 1990s, leading some law enforcement officials to question if the court orders are still needed.

— james queally, latimes.com, "Trump’s claim that California is soft on crime comes as the state moves away from injunctions, once key to the war on gangs," 8 July 2018
These trends together mean that there are nearly 2.9 million fewer college students than there were at the most recent peak, in 2011, the National Student Clearinghouse reports.

— jon marcus, star-telegram, "More high school grads than ever are going to college, but 1 in 5 will quit," 7 July 2018
The avalanche came from a ridge between the nearby Pumori and Lingtren peaks, more than 3,000 feet higher.

— alex hutchinson, Outside Online, "The Devastating Aftermath of an Avalanche on Everest," 6 July 2018
Optimism peaks at nearly 7 in 10 Republicans (69 percent), though nearly half of Democrats (47 percent) agree.

— emily guskin, Washington Post, "It’s Independence Day, but Americans aren’t feeling so proud," 4 July 2018
Adventure seekers don’t have to look far in the islands of the Philippines, with their sparkling waters, dramatic peaks, winding rivers and pristine waterfalls.

— jennifer franklin, USA TODAY, "Paradise awaits in the Philippines," 2 July 2018
Sales peak from January through May, as people prep their gardens.

— anya van wagtendonk, Philly.com, "Truelove prizes seeds and stories from around the world," 2 July 2018
Down 70 percent from its December high after sliding for a fourth straight day on Friday, bitcoin is getting ever-closer to matching the Nasdaq Composite Index's 78 percent peak-to-trough plunge after the U.S. dot-com bubble burst.

— adam haigh and eric lam, chicagotribune.com, "Bitcoin bloodbath nears dot-com levels as many tokens go to zero," 29 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'peak.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

peek vs. peak vs. pique

Peek, peak, and pique: they sound the same but mean very different things.

The first one we learn is peek: it has to do with looking, especially furtively or quickly or through a small space, as in "open the box and peek inside." It's both a noun and a verb; when you peek, you take a peek. Our advice for remembering this one is to keep in mind that you peek in order to see.

Peak is the verb you use to talk about reaching a maximum, or coming to a highest point, literally or figuratively, as in "The meteor shower will last for several days but will peak on Sunday." Its noun counterpart, which refers to various pointed or projecting parts, is more common: something that peaks reaches a peak. Just as every mountain has a peak, thinking of the peak—the highest point—is the way to remember that peak is the choice for reaching the highest levels. Associating the "a" in peak with the "a" in maximum or with a capital "A" (the most mountain-like of letters) can be helpful.

Pique is the oddball of this trio. We know the "ique" spelling from the likes of technique, antique, and unique, but pique nonetheless looks a little exotic. It comes from a French word meaning literally "to prick," but its earliest English use was as a noun. The noun is still used: a pique is a transient feeling of wounded vanity—a kind of resentment. As a verb, pique was (and still is, especially in British English) used to mean "to arouse anger or resentment in," as in "Their rudeness piqued me." Now, however, it's most often our interest or curiosity that gets piqued—that is to say, our interest or curiosity is aroused, as in "The large key hanging next on the wall piqued my curiosity."

Pique has another meaning too, though it's less common than any of those already mentioned. Pique sometimes is used to mean "to take pride in (oneself)," as in "She piques herself on her editing skills."

Master this trio, and you can pique yourself on your word skills.