# peaked

/ˈpikt/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/peaked
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. having a pointed top

adjective · CEFR B2

having a pointed top or a sharp shape like a mountain.

For teachers: characterised by a peak or peaks; having a pointed or crested shape.

- The house had a high peaked roof that helped the snow slide off.
- The mountain range presented a series of jagged, peaked summits that challenged even the most experienced climbers in the expedition.

### 2. looking pale or ill

adjective · CEFR C1 · British English

looking pale, thin, or tired, usually because you are sick.

For teachers: appearing pale, sickly, or emaciated, often as a result of illness or exhaustion.

- You look a bit peaked today; are you feeling alright?
- After a week of battling the flu, he looked remarkably peaked and had lost a noticeable amount of weight.

Usage: Usually used after a linking verb like 'look' or 'feel'.

Teaching tip: This sense is more common in British English; American speakers might prefer 'peaky' or simply 'pale'.

### 3. reached a highest point

verb · CEFR B2

reached the highest level, price, or stage of something.

For teachers: the past tense of 'peak', referring to reaching a maximum value, intensity, or point of development.

- The athlete peaked at the right time and won the gold medal.
- Traffic congestion peaked during the early evening hours, causing significant delays across the metropolitan transport network.

## Examples

- You look a bit peaked today; are you feeling alright?
- After a week of fighting the flu, he emerged from his room looking thin and peaked.
- The long hours in the windowless office left the staff looking peaked and exhausted by the time the project finally reached its conclusion.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.