Look quickly: meaning, definitions and examples

Glance is used when you want to take a quick look at something without focusing too much on it. It is often intentional.

• She glanced at her watch to check the time.
• He threw a quick glance at the book on the table.

Glimpse is used when you see something for a very short moment, often accidentally and briefly.

• She caught a glimpse of him as he walked through the door.
• I only got a glimpse of the deer before it ran away into the forest.

Peek is used when you take a quick, often sneaky, look at something, usually when trying to do so unnoticed.

• He peeked through the curtains to see who was outside.
• She couldn't resist peeking at her birthday presents.

Peeked is the past tense of peek. It's used to describe having taken a quick, secret look.

• She peeked into the box to see if the gift was inside.
• He peeked over the wall to see what was happening on the other side.

Implies doing something with urgency and often carelessness, typically used in situations where there may be a negative outcome due to the rushed nature.

• He hastily wrote his exam answers, making many mistakes

Implies prompt and efficient action, frequently used to suggest smoothness and effectiveness.

• The car moved swiftly through the empty streets

Conveys a sense of high speed but without the implication of carelessness, often used in scientific or formal contexts.

• The virus spread rapidly through the community

Similar to 'quickly,' but can sometimes sound more formal or old-fashioned; often used in formal communications.

• The repairs were completed speedily to ensure customer satisfaction