peep

1 of 4

verb (1)

peeped; peeping; peeps

intransitive verb

1
: to utter a feeble shrill sound as of a bird newly hatched : cheep
2
: to utter the slightest sound

peep

2 of 4

noun (1)

1
: a feeble shrill sound : cheep
2
: a slight utterance especially of complaint or protest
3
: any of several small sandpipers

peep

3 of 4

verb (2)

peeped; peeping; peeps

intransitive verb

1
a
: to peer through or as if through a crevice
b
: to look cautiously or slyly
2
: to begin to emerge from or as if from concealment : show slightly

transitive verb

1
: to put forth or cause to protrude slightly
2
slang : to have a look at : see, watch

peep

4 of 4

noun (2)

1
: a first glimpse or faint appearance
at the peep of dawn
2
a
: a brief look : glance
b
: a furtive look

Examples of peep in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
In addition to peeping Coldwater Gardens’ restorative work — from the apiary to the aquaponic greenhouse — guests can cruise the property’s seven miles of hiking and biking trails or visit one of the four sandbar beaches that run along the creek, which is ripe for swimming, tubing, and kayaking. Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 3 Nov. 2023 At a clandestine meeting in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, in early 2001, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin gasped and peeped. Sam Kiley, CNN, 14 Oct. 2023 Advertisement He was also convicted in 1981 for molesting a 6-year-old neighbor and in 1984 for peeping in a locker room at the University of California, Santa Barbara campus, Deputy District Attorney Melissa Diaz said in court. City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Oct. 2023 Check out a fall foliage map to figure out when the trees in your area will be looking their most vibrant, then plan a romantic drive or foliage train ride to peep those leaves. Corinne Sullivan, Country Living, 1 Aug. 2023 Indecent exposure: Mayfield Road At 6:50 a.m. Aug. 27, a woman called police to her condominium on a report of a peeping Tom. cleveland, 1 Sep. 2023 Sometimes, they’re framed by thick, windowpane-like lines that cast the viewer as a peeping Tom. Laura Bannister Carla Valdivia Nakatani Jameson Montgomery Christopher Kuo Gisela Williams, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2023 Before long, their colts peeped through the tall grass, begging for food and learning to dance. Lois Parshley, Scientific American, 19 Sep. 2023 For a thrilling date, hop a private helicopter to Glacier National Park (otherwise a three-hour drive from the resort) and peep the changing colors. Alison Lewis, Travel + Leisure, 10 Aug. 2023
Noun
But two years ago the deficit was nearly $3 trillion, or almost 12 percent of GDP, and the bond market didn’t raise a peep. Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 5 Oct. 2023 Tupac may not have known, but Suge and his peeps definitely knew. Vulture, 3 Oct. 2023 Since then, barely a peep from the G.O.P. corruption fighters. John Cassidy, The New Yorker, 14 Aug. 2023 Stewart accessorized her look with long, silver earrings and matching heels featuring a peep toe. Sabienna Bowman, Peoplemag, 13 Oct. 2023 Or leaf peep from the water on a Portsmouth Harbor Cruises tour on Great Bay or the Cocheco River. Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 15 Aug. 2023 Conceivably one of them could use Cemex or some other pro-labor NLRB decision as a pretext to withdraw support, but none has raised a peep about that yet. Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 30 Aug. 2023 Yet last week, when Mr. Sunak and his family spent a 10-day vacation at their multimillion-dollar penthouse apartment in Santa Monica, Calif., there was scarcely a peep about it in the British papers. Mark Landler, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2023 The world’s top surfing dogs took to the water in individual and freestyle peeps and pups divisions in the 18th annual Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon The world’s top surfing dogs took to the water in individual and freestyle peeps and pups divisions in the 18th annual Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon. K.c. Alfred, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'peep.' 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

Verb (1)

Middle English pepen, of imitative origin

Verb (2)

Middle English pepen, perhaps alteration of piken to peek

First Known Use

Verb (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun (2)

1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of peep was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near peep

Cite this Entry

“Peep.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/peep. Accessed 2 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

peep

1 of 4 verb
1
: to make a feeble shrill sound as of a bird newly hatched
2
: to speak with a small weak voice

peep

2 of 4 noun
: a quick high-pitched sound

peep

3 of 4 verb
1
2
: to show slightly
crocuses peeping through the snow

peep

4 of 4 noun
1
: the first appearance
the peep of dawn
2
: a brief or sly look
Etymology

Verb

Middle English pepen "to peep, make the sound of a young bird"; the word began as an imitation of the sound made by a young bird

Verb

Middle English pepen "to peek," an altered form of earlier piken "to peek"

Medical Definition

PEEP

abbreviation
positive end-expiratory pressure

More from Merriam-Webster on peep

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