SINCE 1828
creak
verb
\ ˈkrēk
\
\
creaked;
creaking;
creaks
Definition of creak
(Entry 1 of 2)
: to make a prolonged grating or squeaking sound often as a result of being worn-out
also
: to proceed slowly with or as if with creaking wheels
the story creaks along to a dull conclusion
creak
nounDefinition of creak (Entry 2 of 2)
: a rasping or grating noise
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Examples of creak in a Sentence
Verb
The old floorboards creaked under our feet. The porch roof creaked with the heavy weight of the snow.Noun
the creak of a floorboard
Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
But after introducing this camaraderie, the author creaks open the door to reveal a harsher dynamic: the mother struggling with alcohol and work and relationships, and Callie figuring out a high-wire existence under the same roof. — The Atlantic, "What We’re Reading This Summer," 28 June 2019 The searchers crest a hill where a derelict trailer creaks in the wind, then follow the slope down toward a clearing. — Eric Ogden, Marie Claire, "The Invisible Victims," 10 June 2019 The hour being now half past one, the doors of the Conciergerie would be creaking open. — Bruce Dale, National Geographic, "Adored, neglected, and restored: A 1968 Nat Geo feature explored Notre Dame," 17 Apr. 2019 Warped wooden floorboards creak under my feet, and exposed pipes and electrical wiring line the unfinished hallway. — Merrell Hambleton, New York Times, "In the Studio With an Artist Devoted to the Line," 18 Apr. 2018 Their muscles ached, their lungs heaved, their bodies creaked and groaned. — Rory Smith, New York Times, "Croatia Digs Deeper, Burying England’s World Cup Dreams," 12 July 2018 New York City’s subway system, meanwhile, is creaking under the strain of years of accumulated delays in maintenance and a growing ridership. — Matt Day, The Seattle Times, "Amazon shifts its sights to the East Coast," 13 Nov. 2018 The League, instead, enjoys deep support among entrepreneurs in Italy’s wealthy north, who have clamored for years to modernize Italy’s creaking infrastructure. — Eric Sylvers, WSJ, "Alpine Tunnel Splits Italy’s Populists," 19 Jan. 2019 Crepitus can be fine, which is more of a mild creaking sound and sensation, or coarse, which is more intense. — Korin Miller, SELF, "Here’s What It Means If Your Knee Just Won’t Stop Popping," 23 Sep. 2018Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
Leonard could run the risk of spending his prime with a creak supporting cast as Milwaukee and Philadelphia ride their youngsters to the conference crown. — Michael Shapiro, SI.com, "Five Big Questions Surrounding Kawhi Leonard's NBA Free Agency," 25 June 2019 Sound designer Matt Reed mixed the actors’ voices with sounds that evoked the narratives, like the tinkle of a wine glass on a first date, or the mechanical creaks of a plane in a deep dive to the ground. — Nora Mcgreevy, BostonGlobe.com, "‘Modern Love Live’ brings reflections on mortality, platonic love, and emergency room visits," 18 June 2019 What would a scary movie be without the ominous creak of floorboards? Sound effects—called Foley—add crucial value to any film. — Annie Martin, National Geographic, "Can you match these tools to the movie sound effects they make?," 12 June 2019 Mensore dedicates his scant resources to creating a visceral experience, emphasizing the lack of visibility, the gassy haze and the constant, terrifying creaks and moans underground. — Noel Murray, latimes.com, "Reviews: Harrowing disaster thriller ‘Mine 9’; Scott Adkins in ‘Abduction’; and more," 6 June 2019 And finally—alone with her former careful way of living—she’d notice each creak of wood, keep an eye on the roses growing in the garden, do quick laps, and give sharp cries of recognition. — Benjamin Moser, Harper's magazine, "The Indirect World," 10 Apr. 2019 Research supports the idea that a little background sound can help people tune out sleep-disrupting creaks or clatter. — Markham Heid, Time, "Why Not Everyone Should Sleep with a White Noise Machine," 4 June 2019 Herringbone parquet floors underfoot give off a comforting creak. — Alexandra Marshall, WSJ, "Exclusive: Step Inside YSL’s New Parisian Headquarters," 15 Feb. 2019 Two smaller points of commendation: the LCD2 Classics emit zero creaks and, in their mostly metal construction, seem likely to last for a very long time. — Vlad Savov, The Verge, "Audeze LCD2 Classic review: these cans will turn you into an audiophile," 3 Aug. 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'creak.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for creak
creak
verb
English Language Learners Definition of creak
: to make a long, high sound : to make a sound like the sound made by an old door when it opens or closes
See the full definition for creak in the English Language Learners Dictionary
creak
verb
\ ˈkrēk
\
\
creaked;
creaking
Kids Definition of creak
(Entry 1 of 2)
: to make a long scraping or squeaking sound
The stairs creaked … with every step.— Astrid Lindgren, Pippi Longstocking
creak
nounKids Definition of creak (Entry 2 of 2)
: a long squeaking or scraping noise
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