Peak Definition & Meaning

American

British

Usage

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Examples

Related Words

Synonyms peak 1 American [peek] / pik /

noun

1. the pointed top of a mountain or ridge.

2. a mountain with a pointed summit.

3. the pointed top of anything.

4. the highest or most important point or level.

   the peak of her political career.

   Synonyms: optimum, perfect, ideal, zenith, summit, summit, pinnacle, apex, acme Antonyms: nadir, abyss, chasm

5. the maximum point, degree, or volume of anything.

   Oil prices reached their peak last year.

6. a time of the day or year when traffic, use, demand, etc., is greatest and charges, fares, or the like are at the maximum.

   Early evening is the peak on commuter railroads.

7. the higher fare, charges, etc., during such a period.

   If you fly during the Christmas holidays, you'll have to pay peak.

8. Physics.

   1. the maximum value of a quantity during a specified time interval.

      a voltage peak.

   2. the maximum power consumed or produced by a unit or group of units in a stated period of time.

9. a projecting point.

   the peak of a man's beard.

10. widow's peak.

11. a projecting front piece, or visor, of a cap.

12. Phonetics. nucleus.

13. Nautical.

    1. the contracted part of a ship's hull at the bow or the stern.

    2. the upper after corner of a sail that is extended by a gaff.

    3. the outer extremity of a gaff.

verb (used without object)

1. to project in a peak.

2. to attain a peak of activity, development, popularity, etc..

   The artist peaked in the 1950s.

verb (used with object)

1. Nautical. to raise the after end of (a yard, gaff, etc.) to or toward an angle above the horizontal.

adjective

1. Also being at the point of maximum frequency, intensity, use, etc.; busiest or most active.

   Hotel rooms are most expensive during the peak travel seasons.

2. constituting the highest or maximum level, volume, etc.; optimal; prime.

   a machine running at peak performance.

3. being at the height of trendiness, public notice, etc.

   We have reached peak “exercise dress”—women are gravitating toward sporty, stretchy skort-dresses for everyday wear.

4. being the most perfect embodiment of something.

   Peak Gemini energy on display as our kid takes one lick off everyone’s cone, because she likes all the ice cream flavors.

peak 2 American [peek] / pik /

verb (used without object)

1. to become weak, thin, and sickly.

peak British / piːk /

noun

1. a pointed end, edge, or projection

   the peak of a roof

2. the pointed summit of a mountain

3. a mountain with a pointed summit

4. the point of greatest development, strength, etc

   the peak of his career

5. 1. a sharp increase in a physical quantity followed by a sharp decrease

      a voltage peak

   2. the maximum value of this quantity

   3. ( as modifier )

      peak voltage

6. Also called: visor. a projecting piece on the front of some caps

7. 1. See widow's peak

   2. the pointed end of a beard

8. nautical

   1. the extreme forward ( forepeak ) or aft ( afterpeak ) part of the hull

   2. (of a fore-and-aft quadrilateral sail) the after uppermost corner

   3. the after end of a gaff

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

1. (tr) nautical to set (a gaff) or tilt (oars) vertically

2. to form or reach or cause to form or reach a peak or maximum

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adjective

1. of or relating to a period of highest use or demand, as for watching television, commuting, etc

   peak viewing hours

   peak time

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Usage

What's the difference between peak, peek, and pique? The word peak refers to the top of a mountain or, more figuratively, to the highest point of something, as in the peak of my career. The word peek is most commonly used as a verb meaning to look at something quickly or sneakily and as a noun referring to such a look. The less frequently used word pique is most commonly used as a verb meaning to arouse or excite a particular feeling, as in Advertisements are designed to pique your interest.The confusion surrounding the three words—all three of which can be used as both a verb and a noun—is mainly due to the fact that they are all pronounced the same.Since peak and peek are so close in spelling, one way to tell them apart is to remember that peek has two e’s, which kind of look like two little eyes peeking out between the p and the k. Another way to remember this is that peek has two e’s like look has two o’s.To remember what pique means (and how to spell it), remember that the things that pique your interest or curiosity are often unique.Here’s an example of peak, peek, and pique used correctly in a sentence.Example: The image of the strange mountain peak on the cover was meant to pique your curiosity, and it worked—you picked up the magazine to peek inside.Want to learn more? Read the breakdown of the difference between peaked, peeked, and piqued.

Other Word Forms

• peakish adjective
• peakishly adverb
• peakishness noun
• peakless adjective
• peaklike adjective
• peaky adjective

Etymology

Origin of peak1

First recorded in 1520–30; late Middle English pek(e) “spike, pointed tip,” Old English pīc “point, pointed instrument, pike,” probably originally a variant of pike 2 ( def. ); compare Middle Low German pēk, peek, peik “pick, pike”

Origin of peak2

First recorded in 1500–10; origin uncertain

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The stock is attempting to stabilize after a punishing four-week slide that saw shares tumble roughly 30% from peak to trough.

From Barron's

A bright morning sun seemed to be taking a rest right on top of the highest peak of the Ozark Mountains.

From Literature

That peak happened to coincide with the company’s bold forecast of $500 billion in revenue from just two of its AI chip families by the end of its current fiscal year, January 2027.

From The Wall Street Journal

Tokyo piled on more than one percent to also hit a new peak, with tech firms Advantest and Tokyo Electron among the best performers.

From Barron's

Citron Research, led by activist short seller Andrew Left, said in a Tuesday post on X that the firm is shorting Sandisk, saying the memory cycle is starting to peak.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• crest
• hill
• mountain
• pinnacle
• roof
• spike
• summit

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.