peaked
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.having a pointed top or a sharp shape like a mountain.
adj.characterised by a peak or peaks; having a pointed or crested shape.
Simple“The house had a high peaked roof that helped the snow slide off.”
In context“The mountain range presented a series of jagged, peaked summits that challenged even the most experienced climbers in the expedition.”
- 02 C1 Advanced
adj.looking pale, thin, or tired, usually because you are sick.
adj.appearing pale, sickly, or emaciated, often as a result of illness or exhaustion.
Simple“You look a bit peaked today; are you feeling alright?”
In context“After a week of battling the flu, he looked remarkably peaked and had lost a noticeable amount of weight.”
UsageUsually used after a linking verb like 'look' or 'feel'.
Teacher's tipThis sense is more common in British English; American speakers might prefer 'peaky' or simply 'pale'.
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.reached the highest level, price, or stage of something.
v.the past tense of 'peak', referring to reaching a maximum value, intensity, or point of development.
Simple“The athlete peaked at the right time and won the gold medal.”
In context“Traffic congestion peaked during the early evening hours, causing significant delays across the metropolitan transport network.”
SynonymsAntonymsbottomed out
“On Saturday the temperature peaked at 30.6C in southern England.”
See peak.
See peak (Etymology 2).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.