Word
geek
US/ˈɡik/
UK/ɡˈiːk/
Definitions
01an enthusiast
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Informal
n. someone who is extremely interested in a particular subject and knows a lot about it.
n. a person with an intense, often obsessive interest in a specific intellectual or technical niche.
“He is a total history geek and spends all his weekends at museums.”
“While he was once mocked for being a computer geek, his deep technical knowledge eventually made him the most sought-after consultant in the firm.”
Synonyms
02socially awkward person
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Informal
n. a person who is seen as boring or not popular because they like things that are not 'cool'.
n. a person perceived as socially inept or unfashionable due to their unconventional interests.
“In high school, I felt like a geek because I preferred chess to football.”
“The film explores the classic trope of the high school geek who eventually finds success by embracing their unique personality.”
03to talk excitedly
C1 · Advanced Informal · Slang
v. to talk or act with a lot of excitement about a hobby or technical subject.
v. to engage in or discuss a niche interest with intense enthusiasm; often used with 'out'.
“We spent the whole night geeking out over the new space photos.”
“The two engineers spent the entire dinner party geeking out over the nuances of the new software architecture, much to the boredom of the other guests.”
Usage
Often used as the phrasal verb 'geek out' followed by the preposition 'over'.
Synonyms
04a look
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Informal · Dialect · British English
n. a quick look at something.
n. a brief look or glance at something.
“Have a geek at this photo I found in the attic.”
“He took a quick geek at the engine to see if he could identify the source of the rattling sound.”
Teaching tip
This sense is specific to Australian English and some UK dialects; learners should use 'look' or 'peek' in general contexts.
Real-World Examples
“She was a computer geek to begin with.” Etymology
Started as carnival slang, likely from the British dialectal term geck (“a fool, dupe, simpleton”) (1510s), apparently from Dutch gek or Low German geck, from an imitative verb found in North Sea Germanic and Scandinavian meaning "to croak, cackle," and also "to mock, cheat" (Dutch gekken, German gecken, Danish gække, Norwegian gakke, Swedish gäcka). The root still survives in the Dutch adjective noun gek (“crazy" or "crazy person”). Compare gink and also Old Norse gikkr (“a pert, rude person; jester; fool”).
Probably related to keek. Compare German gucken (“look”), kieken (“look”) and the dialectal corruption of Dutch keek (“keek”) (from kijk (“look”)), kijken (“to look”). Australian use from Cornish dialect.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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