The large key hanging on the wall piqued my curiosity. Pique can still be used (especially in British English) to mean 'to arouse anger or resentment in,' as in 'Their rudeness piqued me.' Now, however, it's most often our interest or curiosity that gets piqued-that is to say, our interest or curiosity is aroused: It comes from a French word meaning literally 'to prick,' and when people were first piqued in English they were irritated and angry. We know the 'ique' spelling from the likes of technique, antique, and unique, but pique nonetheless looks a little exotic. Associating the 'a' in peak with the 'a' in maximum or with a capital 'A' (the most mountain-like of letters) can be helpful. And just as every mountain has a peak, thinking of the peak-the highest point-is the way to remember that peak is the verb for reaching the highest levels.

Its noun counterpart (referring to various pointed or projecting parts) is older and more common. The meteor shower will last for several days but will peak on Sunday. Peak is the verb you use to talk about reaching a maximum, or coming to a highest point, literally or figuratively: Our advice to you: keep in mind that you p eek in order to s ee. We say 'unhelpfully' because the 'ea' in the first might make it hard to remember the 'ee' in the second.

Peek is also, somewhat unhelpfully, the word in the phrase sneak peek. (The noun peek, as in 'take a peek,' is a 17th century development.) (That word, unsurprisingly, comes from peek and the boo of both contempt and fright.) Meanwhile peek itself has been a verb since the 14th century. It's the word in peekaboo, a game for amusing babies that we've been calling by that name for more than four centuries. The first one we learn is peek: it has to do with looking, especially furtively or quickly or through a small space.

'The neighbors are explaining different words again.' 'Peek' Meaning

Sneak peek vs peak