Sign in
Peak, peek, or pique
They sound the same: peak is the top or highest point, peek is a quick secret look, and pique means to stir interest or hurt pride.
Quick rule
The top or highest point? Peak. A quick, secret look? Peek. Stirring interest or curiosity? Pique.
The top of a mountain or the highest point of something: the peak of her career.
To look quickly and secretly, or a look like that: take a peek.
To stir someone's interest or curiosity (pique your interest), or to hurt their pride. It is formal.
How to choose
| Question | peak | peek | pique |
|---|---|---|---|
| Is it the top: a summit or a highest point? | Yes | No | No |
| Is it a quick or secret look? | No | Yes | No |
| Does it stir or hurt something in a person (___ my interest, ___ his pride)? | No | No | Yes |
Why it trips people up
All three are pronounced /piːk/, so the mix-up only shows in writing. The classic slips are peaked my interest and sneak peak: the first should be piqued, the second peek.
How they sound
All three are /piːk/, in both American and British English.
- peak/piːk/
- peek/piːk/
- pique/piːk/
How each one works
Peak
Top of a mountain
We reached the peak at noon.
Highest point
Traffic is at its peak around six.
Peak + noun: busiest
Hotels are expensive in peak season.
Peek
Looking secretly
Don't peek! It's a surprise.
A quick look
Can I take a peek at your notes?
Just becoming visible
The sun peeked through the clouds.
Pique
Stirring curiosity
The title piqued my curiosity.
Hurting pride
Her comment piqued his pride.
Noun: hurt annoyance
He left the meeting in a fit of pique.
Set phrases
Peak
- peak season
- the busiest time of year for travel or business
Peek
- sneak peek
- a chance to see something before it is officially released
Pique
- in a fit of pique
- suddenly and angrily, because your pride was hurt
Common mistakes
Wrong: Here's a sneak peak at the new album.
Right: Here's a sneak peek at the new album.
A sneak peek is a quick early look, so it takes peek.
Wrong: Sales peeked in December.
Right: Sales peaked in December.
Reaching the highest point is peak; peek is a look.
Memory trick
Peek has two e's, like two eyes peeking. Peak has an a, like the point of a mountain. Pique ends in -que, like unique: the odd one out.
FAQ
Peaked or piqued my interest?
Piqued. To pique interest is to stir it up; peaked means reached its highest point.
Sneak peak or sneak peek?
Sneak peek, from peek, a quick secret look. A peak is a summit.