peekaboo: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1informal, playful
Quick answer
What does “peekaboo” mean?
A game played with a young child, in which one covers one's face and then suddenly reveals it while saying "peekaboo!
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A game played with a young child, in which one covers one's face and then suddenly reveals it while saying "peekaboo!"
Any instance of something appearing or disappearing suddenly in a playful or teasing manner; can describe clothing or style where fabric has strategic cutouts or openings.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling is consistent. The game and its name are identical in both varieties. The fashion sense is equally understood.
Connotations
Universally evokes childhood, playfulness, and innocence in its primary sense. The fashion connotation can carry a flirtatious or cheeky nuance.
Frequency
Common in contexts of child-rearing and parenting. The fashion usage is less frequent but widely recognized.
Grammar
How to Use “peekaboo” in a Sentence
play peekaboo with [someone][someone] loves peekabooa [fashion item] with a peekaboo [feature]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “peekaboo” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The baby's laughter during a round of peekaboo is contagious.
- Her dress had a subtle peekaboo lace panel at the back.
American English
- Peekaboo is a classic game for developing object permanence.
- She styled her hair in a peekaboo braid with colored extensions.
interjection
British English
- Peekaboo! I see you!
American English
- Peekaboo! Gotcha!
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used. Potentially metaphorical, e.g., "The company's finances are playing peekaboo with the auditors."
Academic
Used in developmental psychology and childhood studies literature to describe a specific interactive game.
Everyday
Common in family settings, parenting discussions, and informal descriptions of playful hiding.
Technical
Not used in technical contexts outside of specialized child development fields.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “peekaboo”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “peekaboo”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “peekaboo”
- Spelling: 'peak-a-boo' (incorrect; 'peak' is a mountain top).
- Using as a formal verb: 'He peekabooed from behind the curtain' is non-standard and childish. Use 'peeked' instead.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily yes, but the concept has metaphorically extended into other domains like fashion (peekaboo cutouts, peekaboo highlights in hair) and occasionally figurative language to describe anything that appears and disappears teasingly.
"Peekaboo" is the standard spelling. "Peek-a-boo" with hyphens is a common variant, but the closed form is more frequent in modern dictionaries.
Using 'peekaboo' as a verb (e.g., 'He peekabooed around the corner') is considered non-standard and very childish. The standard verb is 'to peek'.
It is a reduplication based on the verb 'peek' (to look quickly or secretly) and the exclamation 'boo!' used to surprise someone. The game and term have been documented in English since at least the late 16th century (as 'peep-bo').
A game played with a young child, in which one covers one's face and then suddenly reveals it while saying "peekaboo!
Peekaboo is usually informal, playful in register.
Peekaboo: in British English it is pronounced /ˈpiːkəbuː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈpikəˌbu/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “play peekaboo with the truth (metaphorical, implying evasiveness)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
PEEK (look quickly) + A + BOO (a sound meant to surprise) = the action of peeking and saying "boo!"
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWING IS SEEING / ATTENTION IS A VISUAL FOCUS (the game builds the child's understanding of object permanence through the metaphor of appearance/disappearance).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'peekaboo' LEAST likely to be used appropriately?