peak

USPEEK/piːk/

Pluralpeaks

Verbpeaks, peaking, peaked

Often confused with peek and pique

18 meanings of peak

Practice

1
nouncountable
The pointed top of a mountain, or a whole mountain with a pointed top.
Like the pointed top of a triangle.
Snow covered the peak all winter long.
Climbers reached the peak just before sunset.
UsageDo not mix it up with peek, a quick look: a sneak peek.
Similarsummit, top, pinnacle, crest
Note
2
highest levelnouncountable
The highest point, amount, or level that something reaches.
Like the highest point on a hill before things start going down.
Sales hit their peak in December.
The fever reached its peak on the third day.
UsageOften at its peak.
Similarsummit, climax, apex, pinnacle, zenith
Oppositelow, trough, nadir
Note
3
verbintransitive
To reach the highest point before going down.
Like climbing to the top of a hill and then heading back down.
Interest in the show peaked last summer.
Prices often peak and then slowly fall.
UsageOften with a time: peaked in 2010.
Similarcrest, culminate, climax
Note
4
adjective
At the highest or greatest level.
Like a car running at its very fastest speed.
We hiked during peak season, so the trails were busy.
The store hires more workers at peak times.
UsageBefore a noun: peak hours.
Similarmaximum, top, optimum, full
Oppositeminimum, low
Note
5
pointed tipnouncountable
The sharp, pointed end or top of something.
Like the pointed tip of an ice cream cone.
The peak of the tent kept the rain off our heads.
She folded the paper into a sharp peak.
UsageOften stiff peaks in cooking.
Similarpoint, tip, apex, crest
Note
6
high (on a graph)nouncountable
The highest point on a wave or curve before it dips back down.
Like the top of each bump on a roller coaster track.
The graph shows a sharp peak right in the middle.
Every wave has a peak and a low point.
Similarmaximum
Oppositetrough, minimum
Note

Less common meanings

7
verbintransitive
To rise up into a sharp point.
Like soft ice cream rising into a swirl on top.
The mountains peak sharply against the evening sky.
The whipped cream peaks nicely once you beat it.
Note
8
cap frontnounUKcountable
The stiff front part of a cap that sticks out to shade your eyes.
Like a small shelf over your eyes that blocks the sun.
He pulled the peak of his cap down against the sun.
The cap's peak was bent from being shoved in his pocket.
Similarvisor, brim, bill
Note
9
adjectiveslang
Being the most typical or extreme example of something.
Like giving something top marks.
Cold pizza for breakfast is peak college life.
This song is peak summer music.
UsageOften so peak: really good.
Similarquintessential, classic, ultimate
10
excellent thingnounslanguncountable
Something that is of the very best quality.
Like calling something the best of the best.
That meal was pure peak.
Their latest song is absolute peak.
UsageSay pure peak, without a.
Similarperfection
11
overload (sound)verbtransitive
To overload an audio device with a signal that is too strong, making the sound distort.
Like pouring too much water into a glass so it spills over.
The singer peaked the microphone with one loud shout.
Don't peak the amp or the recording will sound rough.
Similaroverload, overdrive
Note
12
verbobsoleteintransitive
To secretly look at or spy on something.
Similarpeep, peek, pry, snoop
13
adjectivedialectalMulticultural London English
Bad or unlucky. Annoying or hard to deal with.
I missed the last bus and had to walk home. That's peak.
His attitude was peak all morning.
UsageIt's peak means it's bad. Online it can also mean very good.
Similarbad, awful, terrible, rubbish
Oppositegood, great
Note
14
verbarchaic
To become thin, pale, and ill-looking.
Dwindle, peak, and pine.
c. 1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”
15
noun
The top rear corner of a sail set lengthwise along a boat.
16
noun
The narrow front part of a ship, or the storage space inside it.
17
noun
The sharp tip at the end of an anchor's arm.
18
verb
To raise the outer end of a sail's top pole closer to upright.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of peak apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 1–11, 13

From an old English word 'pīc' meaning a sharp point or peak. It is related to the word 'pike'.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts

Peak derives from Old English pīc, meaning a pointed object or peak. en.wiktionary.org
Peak is etymologically related to pike. en.wiktionary.org

Meaning 12

The origin is unknown. It may be linked to the other 'peak', through the idea of becoming pointed from growing thin.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts

The origin of peak meaning to grow thin or sickly is unknown. en.wiktionary.org
It may be related to the other peak through the idea of becoming pointed through growing thin. en.wiktionary.org