creek

1 of 2

noun (1)

ˈkrēk  ˈkrik 

1

: a natural stream of water normally smaller than and often tributary to a river

2

chiefly British : a small inlet or bay narrower and extending farther inland than a cove

3

archaic : a narrow or winding passage

see also:

up the creek

Creek

2 of 2

noun (2)

ˈkrēk 

1

plural Creek or Creeks : a member of any of a group of Indigenous American peoples that formed a confederacy in Georgia and eastern Alabama in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries and that were forcibly removed to Indian Territory in 1836 to 1840

2

a

plural Creek or Creeks : a member of the people who comprised the nucleus of the Creek confederacy : muscogee sense 1

b

: the Muskogean language of this people : muscogee sense 2

Note: Creek is the name by which the Muscogee people were known to English settlers prior to their forcible removal to Indian Territory. Present-day members of this nation live under the name Muscogee (Creek) Nation.

Synonyms of creek

Noun (1)

• brook

Examples of creek in a Sentence

Noun (1)

The children waded in the creek.

The coast is dotted with tiny creeks.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

This summer, her 3-year-old son, Lewis, watched TV and played in the creek behind the house. — Annika Hammerschlag, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026

Also, watch for standing water and lingering flooding near creeks and streams. — Grant Gilmore, CBS News, 12 Oct. 2026

McDowell County residents near rivers and creeks and in low-lying areas should relocate as soon as possible, county emergency management officials said late Saturday morning. — Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 10 Oct. 2026

Her body was found by a fisherman trolling beneath a bridge on the bank of a creek in Montague County, which is about 70 miles northwest of downtown Fort Worth, police told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. — Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 5 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English crike, creke, from Old Norse -kriki bend

First Known Use

Noun (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun (2)

1725, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing creek

• up the creek

Rhymes for creek

• beak
• beek
• bleak
• cheek
• chic
• clique
• creak
• eke
• freak
• geek
• greek
• leak

Kids Definition

creek

1 of 2 noun

ˈkrēk  ˈkrik 

1

chiefly British : a small narrow inlet or bay

2

: a stream of water usually smaller than a river

Creek

2 of 2 noun

ˈkrēk 

: a member of an Indigenous people originally of Alabama, Georgia, and Florida

also : their language