What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
peeping
Example
He was caught peeping through the keyhole. [peeping: verb]
Example
She took a quick peeping glance at the gift before wrapping it. [peeping: adjective]
sneaking
Example
He was sneaking around the house trying to avoid his parents. [sneaking: verb]
Example
She felt guilty for sneaking a piece of cake from the kitchen. [sneaking: gerund or present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Sneaking is more commonly used than peeping in everyday language. Sneaking is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while peeping is less common and often associated with more specific situations such as peeping through a keyhole or peeping at someone's phone.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between peeping and sneaking?
Both peeping and sneaking are informal words and are not typically used in formal contexts.