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
Initially, Markham hoped to gut, remodel and open the space in six to eight months, but the project was stymied with problems related to the aging building, including wood rot, water damage, creaking timbers, a leaky roof. — Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, "Long-delayed Windmill Food Hall set to open this weekend," 30 Aug. 2019 As Kuforiji began to consecrate the bread and wine, kneeling cushions creaked as worshippers pulled them down from the pews. — oregonlive.com, "Reverence and resistance in one of Portland’s oldest Catholic churches," 11 Aug. 2019 Slowly, stealthily, with painful efforts at concealment—extra distracting—his zipper starts to creak. — Abigail Deutsch, Harper's magazine, "Bette on the Blues," 22 July 2019 That shift would cause the floor to creak and crack. — David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, "Where Did This Massive Underwater Volcano Come From?," 22 May 2019 At 14-3, Australia was creaking, but as so often has been the case, Smith took control. — James Masters, CNN, "Australia vs. England: England ends 27-year wait to reach World Cup final," 11 July 2019 Get our daily newsletter The former McKinsey consultant has bold plans to overhaul the country’s creaking bureaucracy, attract foreign investment and create enough new jobs to stem the exodus of skilled young workers. — The Economist, "Kyriakos Mitsotakis sweeps to victory in Greece," 8 July 2019 But the strength of the book is in its unsentimental limning of the past, of dinner-table conversations, pillow talk, sisterly intrigues and alliances, of creaking floors and sheltering trees, of petty resentments and small rapprochements. — Joanne Kaufman, WSJ, "“The Most Fun We Ever Had” Review: An Assured Debut," 21 June 2019 There is no better place than a World Cup.’’ Mbappe was a constant threat to Argentina’s creaking defense with his speed and skill and was at the heart of France’s often-breathtaking display, particularly in the middle of the second half. — Pan Pylas, BostonGlobe.com, "Kylian Mbappe leads France past Messi’s Argentina and into World Cup quarterfinals," 30 June 2018Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
The almost $90 million project, which officially kicks off Thursday with a groundbreaking ceremony, will replace aging facilities such as a main administration tower more than 50 years old that leaks and creaks. — Joseph Geha, The Mercury News, "Newark to break ground on nearly $90 million civic center project," 7 Aug. 2019 The only sound was the creak of their pedals, echoing off the facades. — Caleb Crain, Harper's magazine, "Talkin’ ’Bout a Revolution," 22 July 2019 Meanwhile, the soundscape of Sophia Nearhood and Samantha Murphey was a headache-inducing electronic clash of grinds, crunches and creaks, often sounding like an earthquake in progress with volume level to match. — Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, "Review: ‘Momentum’ offers mixed dance visions, one exciting, one taxing," 12 July 2019 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. 2019These 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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