peep

1 of 4

verb (1)

ˈpēp 

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

Synonyms

Verb (1)

• cheep
• chirp
• chirrup
• chitter
• jargon
• pip
• pipe
• tweet
• twitter

Noun (2)

• cast
• eye
• gander
• glance
• glimpse
• look
• peek
• regard
• sight
• view

Examples of peep in a Sentence

Verb (1)

the baby peeps and burbles when her mother picks her up

Noun (2)

stole a peep at our neighbor's new pool

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

While their wonderful selection of cashmere is an open secret (peep just about any of our holiday guides), their alpaca blend knits are a sleeper hit. —Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 2 Dec. 2024

Take one of the rare tours of the defunct Presidents Park just outside of Colonial Williamsburg and peep the broken remains of 42 giant presidential busts. —Karri Peifer, Axios, 27 Nov. 2024

Noun

Not a peep from the current city council, nor reflections from local publications or posts from local historical societies. —Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2025

Different groups have access, hundreds of different people have access to this that are nowhere in the scope of what needs to be, and yet nobody raised one peep about it. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 19 Feb. 2025

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

Phrases Containing peep

• peep show
• peep sight

Rhymes for peep

• beep
• cheap
• creep
• deep
• heap
• jeep
• keep
• leap
• reap
• seep
• sheep
• sleep

Kids Definition

peep

1 of 4 verb

ˈpēp 

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

: peek sense 2, peer

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