ENGLISH
REFERENCE

peaked

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈpikt// peaked

adj. looking pale, thin, or sick. You use this to describe someone who looks like they have not been sleeping or eating well.

adj. appearing pale, gaunt, or sickly in countenance. Often used predicatively after linking verbs such as 'look' or 'feel'.


SIMPLE

You look a bit peaked today; are you feeling alright?

CONTEXTUAL

After a week of fighting the flu, he emerged from his room looking thin and peaked.

COMPLEX

The long hours in the windowless office left the staff looking peaked and exhausted by the time the project finally reached its conclusion.

Synonyms
Etymology 1

See peak.

Etymology 2

See peak (Etymology 2).

Usage

Typically follows a linking verb like 'look', 'seem', or 'feel'.

Pitfall

he peaked through the windowhe peeked through the windowLearners confuse the adjective 'peaked' (sickly) or the verb 'peaked' (reached a maximum) with the verb 'peeked' (looked quickly).

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