peak
noun [ C ]
uk/piːk/ usa period during which something reaches its highest level, price, rate, etc.:
At its peak, the company was valued at £1.5 billion.
Several internet service providers tested in the evening peak failed to deliver the new target for high-speed internet.
be above/below the peak of sth The shares have started to recover but are still far below their 12-month peak.
hit/reach/rise to a peak Investors were looking beyond the UK market because they feared it might have reached a peak.
all-time/record/highest peak
Markets are subject to strong peaks and troughs due to economic cycles.
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trough noun
peak
adjective [ before noun ]
uk/piːk/ usrelating to the highest level, price, rate, etc. that something reaches:
The comparison site provides information on peak and off-peak rates across all the major mobile networks.
Service providers keep spare capacity to meet peak demand.
peak efficiency/performance
relating to a period of time during which more people are using a service or system than during any other period:
The new facility could increase the number of packages shipped to 30,000 from 10,000 during the peak holiday season.
peak hours/periods/times The Underground often operates a crowd-control system at peak periods.
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off-peak
peak
verb [ I ]
uk/piːk/ us(also peak out)to reach the highest level, price, rate, etc.:
Official figures show that unemployment peaked in November.
peak (out) at sth There was growing belief in the City that base rates may have peaked at 4.75%.
Despite talk of the market peaking out, investors are still buying rather than selling.