peer

1 of 3

noun

ˈpir 

1

: one that is of equal standing with another : equal

The band mates welcomed the new member as a peer.

especially : one belonging to the same societal group especially based on age, grade, or status

teenagers spending time with their peers

2

a

: a member of one of the five ranks (duke, marquess, earl, viscount, or baron) of the British peerage

b

: noble sense 1

Peers and commoners alike were shown the same courtesy.

3

archaic : companion

peer adjective

peer

2 of 3

verb (1)

peered; peering; peers

intransitive verb

1

: to look narrowly or curiously

a child peering from behind a tree

especially : to look searchingly at something difficult to discern

She peered into the dark closet looking for her missing shoe.

2

: to come slightly into view : emerge partly

… a vast white cloud, through which the sun peered …

—Francis Kingdon-Ward

peer

3 of 3

verb (2)

peered; peering; peers

transitive verb

archaic

: rival, match

Synonyms of peer

Noun

• nobleman
• gentleman

Verb (1)

• gaze
• stare
• gawk

Examples of peer in a Sentence

Noun

He was respected and admired by his peers.

teenagers spending time with their peer groups

Verb (1)

visitors seem mesmerized as they peer at the variety of marine life in the aquarium's huge tank

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Growing up, Harp spent most of her time with adults, especially her mother, and would rarely socialize with her peers, her brother recalled. — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026

But it’s been decades since a young artist with Rodrigo’s following brought her peers together for gender justice. — James Pollard, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026

Verb

Hubble excels at producing razor-sharp images of individual objects, Webb peers farther back into cosmic history than any telescope before it, and Roman will survey enormous swaths of the sky to reveal how those objects fit into the wider universe. — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026

After some major modifications, it's set to begin its five-year mission peering at new supernovas, distant galaxies and planets orbiting stars outside our solar system. — Berly McCoy, NPR, 28 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French per, from per, adjective, equal, from Latin par

Verb (1)

perhaps by shortening & alteration from appear

Verb (2)

Middle English peren, peeren "be the equal of, be comparable to," derivative of per peer entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (1)

1580, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1614, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing peer

• life peer
• peer pressure
• peer review
• peer-to-peer

Rhymes for peer

• beer
• bier
• cheer
• clear
• dear
• deer
• drear
• ear
• fear
• fier
• gear
• hear

Kids Definition

peer

1 of 2 noun

ˈpi(ə)r 

1

: a person of the same rank or class as another

2

a

: a member of one of the five ranks of the British nobility

b

: noble entry 2

peer

2 of 2 verb

1

: to look closely or curiously

peered into the dark closet

2

: peep entry 3 sense 2

Etymology

Noun

Middle English peer "one on equal standing with another," derived from early French per (adjective) "equal," from Latin par "equal" — related to compare, pair, par, umpire see Word History at umpire

Verb

perhaps an altered and shortened form of appear