creep

¹creep

verb \ˈkrēp\

crept\ˈkrept\creep·ing

Definition of CREEP

intransitive verb

1

a : to move along with the body prone and close to the ground b : to move slowly on hands and knees

2

a : to go very slowly <the hours crept by> b : to go timidly or cautiously so as to escape notice <she crept away from the festive scene> c : to enter or advance gradually so as to be almost unnoticed <age creeps up on us> <a note of irritation crept into her voice>

3

: to have the sensation of being covered with creeping things <the thought made his flesh creep>

4

of a plant : to spread or grow over a surface rooting at intervals or clinging with tendrils, stems, or aerial roots

5

a : to slip or gradually shift position b : to change shape permanently from prolonged stress or exposure to high temperatures

Examples of CREEP

1. She crept toward the edge of the roof and looked over.
2. I caught him creeping down the stairs to the kitchen.
3. She crept into bed next to her sleeping husband.
4. The hours crept by as we waited for morning.
5. a train creeping through the town
6. The price of gasoline has crept back up to three dollars a gallon.
7. A few mistakes crept in during the last revision of the paper.
8. new words creeping into the language

Origin of CREEP

Middle English crepen, from Old English crēopan; akin to Old Norse krjūpa to creep

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to CREEP

Synonyms: encroach, inch, worm

Antonyms: barrel, bolt, career, course, dash, fly, hasten, hotfoot (it), hurry, race, rip, rocket, run, rush, scoot, scud, scurry, speed, tear, whirl, whisk, whiz (or whizz), zip

Related Words: snake, sneak; entrench (also intrench), impinge, infringe, intrude, invade; overpass, overreach, overrun, overshoot, overstep

Near Antonyms: bowl, breeze, dart, hump, hurtle, hustle, scramble, stampede; gallop, jog, run, sprint, trot; accelerate, quicken, speed (up); catch up, fast-forward, outpace, outrun, outstrip, overtake

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Rhymes with CREEP

beep, bleep, cheap, cheep, deep, heap, jeep, Jeep, keep, leap, neap, neep, peep, reap, seep, sheep, sleep, steep, sweep, threap, veep, weep