Word
peaking
Phoneticspeak·ing
US/ˈpikɪŋ/
UK/pˈiːkɪŋ/
Definitions
01reaching a highest point
v. reaching the highest level, value, or amount of something.
v. reaching a maximum point of intensity, volume, or value before a subsequent decline.
“The athlete is peaking at just the right time for the summer games.”
“Economists noted that inflation appeared to be peaking, suggesting that the central bank might pause its cycle of interest rate hikes.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02the act of reaching a maximum
n. the process or moment of reaching a highest point.
n. the phenomenon or act of reaching a maximum level or capacity.
“The peaking of the river caused concern for those living in the valley.”
“The simultaneous peaking of demand across multiple sectors put an unprecedented strain on the national power grid.”
Academic
Synonyms
03looking sick
adj. looking pale, thin, or unwell.
adj. appearing sickly, pale, or physically diminished, often due to illness or lack of sleep.
“You look a bit peaking today; did you get enough sleep last night?”
“After a week of heavy flu, he still looked remarkably peaking and was clearly not ready to return to the office.”
British English · Informal
Usage
Often spelled 'peaky' in modern usage, though 'peaking' appears in older texts or specific dialects.
Teaching tip
This sense is quite rare in American English; learners will mostly encounter it in British literature or informal speech.
Real-World Examples
“Across the study, we recorded daytime temperatures peaking between 88.7 and 97 degrees Fahrenheit (31.5 and 36.1 degrees Celsius).” “Across the study, we recorded daytime temperatures peaking between 88.7 and 97 degrees Fahrenheit (31.5 and 36.1 Celsius).” “The UK entered its third heatwave of the year this week with temperatures peaking at 35C .” Scan code
englishreference.com/q/peaking