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

Noun

• gentleman
• grandee
• lord
• milord
• nobleman

Verb (1)

• blink
• gape
• gawk
• gawp [chiefly British]
• gaze
• goggle
• rubberneck
• stare

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

Children on the autism spectrum tend to wander, or elope, from home and other safe places at a higher rate than their peers, according to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. —Elizabeth Chuck, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024

After hopping over to the CW for its next five seasons, Supergirl had to distinguish itself more sharply against its Arrowverse peers, giving its superheroics an earnest social justice streak that was occasionally saccharine but usually infused with just enough charm to carry the day. —Joshua Rivera, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2024

Verb

Miss Manners can only hope that your hosts have the good manners not to peer into your soup plate and comment on the contents. —Miss Manners | Judith Martin, Anchorage Daily News, 27 Mar. 2023

The policymakers will also try to peer into the future and forecast the likely path of growth, employment, inflation and their own interest rates. —Christopher Rugaber, Fortune, 22 Mar. 2023

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

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