Pronunciation: /piːk/

Definitions of pique

noun a feeling of irritation or resentment resulting from a slight, especially to one's pride

Example Sentences

A1 She felt a pique of jealousy when she saw her friend with a new toy.

A2 His pique at not being invited to the party was evident in his tone of voice.

B1 The team's poor performance in the game caused a pique of frustration among the fans.

B2 His constant criticism of her work began to pique her confidence in her abilities.

C1 The artist's latest masterpiece has caused quite a pique in the art world.

C2 The politician's controversial statements have only served to pique public interest in the upcoming election.

verb to feel irritated or resentful

Example Sentences

A1 The movie piqued my interest.

A2 The new exhibit at the museum piqued her curiosity.

B1 The mysterious letter piqued his suspicion.

B2 The controversial article piqued the public's interest.

C1 The scientific discovery piqued the curiosity of researchers around the world.

C2 The new technology piqued the interest of investors looking for innovative opportunities.

Examples of pique in a Sentence

formal The artist's new collection of paintings has managed to pique the interest of art enthusiasts worldwide.

informal I saw the trailer for the new movie and it really piqued my curiosity.

slang Her new hairstyle totally piqued my interest in getting a similar one.

figurative The unexpected plot twist in the book really piqued my emotions.

Grammatical Forms of pique

past tense

piqued

plural

piques

comparative

pikier

superlative

piquiest

present tense

pique

future tense

will pique

perfect tense

have piqued

continuous tense

is piquing

singular

pique

positive degree

pique

infinitive

to pique

gerund

piquing

participle

piqued

Origin and Evolution of pique

First Known Use: 1530 year
Language of Origin: French
Story behind the word: The word 'pique' originated from the French word 'piquer' meaning to prick or sting.
Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'pique' evolved to also mean a feeling of resentment or irritation, as well as a sudden feeling of interest or curiosity.