1
: one that is of equal standing with another : equal
The band mates welcomed the new member as a peer.
especially
: one belonging to the same societal group especially based on age, grade, or status
teenagers spending time with their peers
2
a
: a member of one of the five ranks (duke, marquess, earl, viscount, or baron) of the British peerage
b
: noble sense 1
Peers and commoners alike were shown the same courtesy.
3
archaic
: companion
peer
adjective
peered; peering; peers
1
: to look narrowly or curiously
a child peering from behind a tree
especially
: to look searchingly at something difficult to discern
She peered into the dark closet looking for her missing shoe.
2
: to come slightly into view : emerge partly
a vast white cloud, through which the sun peered—
Francis Kingdon-Ward
Francis Kingdon-WardSynonyms
Examples of peer in a Sentence
Noun
He was respected and admired by his peers.
teenagers spending time with their peer groups
Verb (1)
visitors seem mesmerized as they peer at the variety of marine life in the aquarium's huge tank
Recent Examples on the Web
Elizabeth Chuck, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024
After hopping over to the CW for its next five seasons, Supergirl had to distinguish itself more sharply against its Arrowverse peers, giving its superheroics an earnest social justice streak that was occasionally saccharine but usually infused with just enough charm to carry the day.
—Joshua Rivera, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2024
Miss Manners | Judith Martin, Anchorage Daily News, 27 Mar. 2023
The policymakers will also try to peer into the future and forecast the likely path of growth, employment, inflation and their own interest rates.
—Christopher Rugaber, Fortune, 22 Mar. 2023
See all Example Sentences for peer 
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Noun
Children on the autism spectrum tend to wander, or elope, from home and other safe places at a higher rate than their peers, according to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.
—Elizabeth Chuck, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024
After hopping over to the CW for its next five seasons, Supergirl had to distinguish itself more sharply against its Arrowverse peers, giving its superheroics an earnest social justice streak that was occasionally saccharine but usually infused with just enough charm to carry the day.
—Joshua Rivera, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2024
Verb
Miss Manners can only hope that your hosts have the good manners not to peer into your soup plate and comment on the contents.
—Miss Manners | Judith Martin, Anchorage Daily News, 27 Mar. 2023
The policymakers will also try to peer into the future and forecast the likely path of growth, employment, inflation and their own interest rates.
—Christopher Rugaber, Fortune, 22 Mar. 2023
See all Example Sentences for peer
Dictionary Entries Near peer
Cite this Entry
“Peer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/peer. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
peer
1 of 2 noun1
: a person of the same rank or class as another
2
a
: a member of one of the five ranks of the British nobility
b
peer
2 of 2 verb1
: to look closely or curiously
peered into the dark closet
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