peer
To look very closely and carefully at something that is hard to see.
peer in a sentence
- She had to peer through the misty window to make out the shapes in the garden.
- The sailors had to peer into the fog, straining their eyes to spot the lighthouse.
Try an 11+ style question
Verbal reasoning papers often ask about a word like this.
Which word is closest in meaning to peer?
- Aignore
- Bskim
- Cstare
- Dglance
Show the answer
C: stare. The other three mean the opposite of peer.
Which word is most nearly opposite in meaning to peer?
- Asquint
- Bglance
- Cstare
Show the answer
B: glance. The other three mean nearly the same as peer.
Words that mean something similar
stare, squint
Words that mean the opposite
glance, skim, ignore
More words about movement & action
- pelt: To throw things at someone again and again, or to rain very hard.
- plod: To walk slowly with heavy steps.
- plummet: To fall very fast and suddenly.
- plunge: To fall or dive suddenly downwards.
- pounce: To jump on something suddenly to catch it.
- procure: To get something, often with care or effort.
- prowl: To move around quietly and secretly, like a hunting animal.
- pursue: To chase after someone or something.
More words to explore
Sitting the 11+ in Kent, Medway or Buckinghamshire?
Plain-English guides to each test, from the councils’ own pages: Kent Test · Medway Test · Bucks Secondary Transfer Test