peeped; peeping; peeps
1
: to utter a feeble shrill sound as of a bird newly hatched : cheep
2
: to utter the slightest sound
1
: a feeble shrill sound : cheep
2
: a slight utterance especially of complaint or protest
3
: any of several small sandpipers
peeped; peeping; peeps
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
1
: to put forth or cause to protrude slightly
1
: a first glimpse or faint appearance
at the peep of dawn
2
a
: a brief look : glance
b
: a furtive look
Synonyms
Examples of peep in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Don Sweeney, Sacramento Bee, 8 Apr. 2024
Dark oak paneling and historic beams mark its hall with candle-chevalier lampshades, stone fireplaces, and exposed Cotswold stone brickwork peeping out of every corner, utter farmhouse chic.
—Lewis Nunn, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024
Even so, Bella is enjoying her single life just fine and spends much of her time swinging and climbing in her habitat, doing gymnastics in the topmost part of the Islands indoor dayroom, or peeping down at you from above the ground in the outdoor areas.
—Maggie Menderski, The Courier-Journal, 7 Feb. 2024
Facing death and without another option, Mat blows the horn, this one-shot weapon that, again, has been touted as a nuclear bomb level weapon, and…
A dozen peeps with swords show up at his side.
—Alex Raiman, EW.com, 6 Oct. 2023
Overhead, white fairy terns hover and peep among coconut trees.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Dec. 2023
Save on the best preppy gifts with these Anthropologie promo codes.
24/30
Free People Petite Bow
Bows are currently everywhere—just peep these fall fashion trends—so there’s more reason than ever to lean into Blair Waldorf styling with this satin barette that’s perfect for holiday parties.
—Jake Smith, Glamour, 8 Nov. 2023
Other winners include a giant Dutch clog in the Netherlands, a giant avocado in Mexico, and a stargazing stone igloo in South Africa — peep the full list of winners here.
—Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 10 Oct. 2023
While there are plenty of cheap colognes that smell great—just peep these Amazon perfumes—many bottles will set you back $100 or more.
—Jake Smith, Glamour, 9 Jan. 2024
Brian T. Allen, National Review, 27 Jan. 2024
Think any of the people aghast at Fetterman’s shorts and hoodie emitted a peep about MTG?
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 13 Mar. 2024
No drama for board election, positive quarterly reports After two years of battling with activist investors who wanted to take over Kohl’s board, in May the board, including Kingsbury, was re-elected without a peep from investors.
—Ricardo Torres, Journal Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2024
Alexa is present, too, so users can control nearly everything with voice activation and even get weather updates or peep at their to-do lists while simultaneously munching on popcorn and binging a new series.
—Melissa Epifano, EW.com, 12 Jan. 2024
Secure privacy with the window privacy film, an alternative to expensive gates, blocking peeps and harmful UV rays while adding character to your windows.
—Samantha Booth, Rolling Stone, 11 Oct. 2023
Along the way, peep streets lined with white clapboard cottages with shutters in tell-tale shades of pastel.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 27 Nov. 2023
These creatures hunt by sound, and similarly to A Quiet Place, the family's ability to communicate and travel without making a peep will be essential to their survival.
—Olivia Evans, Women's Health, 21 Aug. 2023
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
Verb
Investigators later connected the Modesto man to four earlier peeping incidents at hotels in the city, a popular tourist destination, Monterey police said in an April 5 news release.
—Don Sweeney, Sacramento Bee, 8 Apr. 2024
Dark oak paneling and historic beams mark its hall with candle-chevalier lampshades, stone fireplaces, and exposed Cotswold stone brickwork peeping out of every corner, utter farmhouse chic.
—Lewis Nunn, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024
Even so, Bella is enjoying her single life just fine and spends much of her time swinging and climbing in her habitat, doing gymnastics in the topmost part of the Islands indoor dayroom, or peeping down at you from above the ground in the outdoor areas.
—Maggie Menderski, The Courier-Journal, 7 Feb. 2024
Facing death and without another option, Mat blows the horn, this one-shot weapon that, again, has been touted as a nuclear bomb level weapon, and…
A dozen peeps with swords show up at his side.
—Alex Raiman, EW.com, 6 Oct. 2023
Overhead, white fairy terns hover and peep among coconut trees.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Dec. 2023
Save on the best preppy gifts with these Anthropologie promo codes.
24/30
Free People Petite Bow
Bows are currently everywhere—just peep these fall fashion trends—so there’s more reason than ever to lean into Blair Waldorf styling with this satin barette that’s perfect for holiday parties.
—Jake Smith, Glamour, 8 Nov. 2023
Other winners include a giant Dutch clog in the Netherlands, a giant avocado in Mexico, and a stargazing stone igloo in South Africa — peep the full list of winners here.
—Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 10 Oct. 2023
While there are plenty of cheap colognes that smell great—just peep these Amazon perfumes—many bottles will set you back $100 or more.
—Jake Smith, Glamour, 9 Jan. 2024
Noun
Sanford Gifford’s Sketch on the Roman Campagna, a precious gem from 1868, provoked not a peep.
—Brian T. Allen, National Review, 27 Jan. 2024
Think any of the people aghast at Fetterman’s shorts and hoodie emitted a peep about MTG?
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 13 Mar. 2024
No drama for board election, positive quarterly reports After two years of battling with activist investors who wanted to take over Kohl’s board, in May the board, including Kingsbury, was re-elected without a peep from investors.
—Ricardo Torres, Journal Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2024
Alexa is present, too, so users can control nearly everything with voice activation and even get weather updates or peep at their to-do lists while simultaneously munching on popcorn and binging a new series.
—Melissa Epifano, EW.com, 12 Jan. 2024
Secure privacy with the window privacy film, an alternative to expensive gates, blocking peeps and harmful UV rays while adding character to your windows.
—Samantha Booth, Rolling Stone, 11 Oct. 2023
Along the way, peep streets lined with white clapboard cottages with shutters in tell-tale shades of pastel.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 27 Nov. 2023
These creatures hunt by sound, and similarly to A Quiet Place, the family's ability to communicate and travel without making a peep will be essential to their survival.
—Olivia Evans, Women's Health, 21 Aug. 2023
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
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.
Dictionary Entries Near peep
Cite this Entry
“Peep.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/peep. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
peep
1 of 4 verb1
: 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 verb1
: peek sense 2, peer
2
: to show slightly
crocuses peeping through the snow
peep
4 of 4 noun1
: 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"
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