Peak vs peek vs pique
Peak is the top or highest point, like a mountain peak. Peek is a quick look, or to look quickly. Pique means to stir up interest, as in pique your curiosity.
Peek has two Es, like two eyes looking. Peak has an A, pointed like a mountain top.
peak noun
The pointed top of a mountain, or the highest point or amount something reaches.
- The mountain's jagged peak pierced the morning clouds.
- Traffic reaches its peak during the morning commute.
peek verb
To take a quick or secret look, often through a small gap. As a noun, a quick look.
- He lay still pretending to sleep, peeking at the clock through half-closed eyes.
- Can I take a peek at the menu before we order?
pique verb
To stir up a feeling, especially curiosity or interest.
- The headline piqued readers' interest enough that they shared the article widely.
- The strange noise in the attic piqued my curiosity.
Watch out
- All three can sound the same, so only the spelling tells them apart in writing.
- Something piques your interest when it stirs it up, so write piqued my interest, not peaked my interest. Interest peaks, with no object, when it reaches its highest point before falling.The trailer piqued my interest, so I bought a ticket.
- Pique is also a noun for a brief feeling of annoyance or hurt pride, as in a fit of pique. Writing peak or peek for this is a misspelling.He resigned in a moment of pique after the meeting went against him.
Test yourself
The trailer was designed to blank the audience's curiosity.
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pique. To stir up curiosity is to pique it.
The kids tried to blank at their presents before the party.
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peek. A quick, secret look is a peek.
The climbers reached the blank just after sunrise.
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peak. The top of a mountain is its peak.
Electricity use hits its blank on hot summer afternoons.
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peak. The highest amount something reaches is its peak.