creak

1 of 2

verb

ˈkrēk 

creaked; creaking; creaks

intransitive verb

: 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

2 of 2

noun

: a rasping or grating noise

Synonyms of creak

Verb

• creep
• drag
• crawl
• shuffle
• limp

Noun

• scratch
• scrape
• rasp

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

Kevin De Bruyne’s departure in summer 2025, Bernardo Silva’s this off-season and questions over Rodri’s future mean City need to rebuild the most important part of their creaking winning machine. — Cerys Jones, New York Times, 24 July 2026

Reviews say this bed frame doesn’t creak, is quick to build (easily done by one person, but the headboard may require an extra set of hands), and feels high-quality. — Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 16 July 2026

Noun

The durable metal is also rust-resistant, and reviews say that despite its metal frame, creaks and squeaks are minimal. — Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 16 July 2026

Prairie grasses and bonnet strings whip in the wind as the creak of wagon wheels carries across the rippling grassland. — Alicia Underlee Nelson, Midwest Living, 22 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English creken to croak, of imitative origin

First Known Use

Verb

1582, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1606, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for creak

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

Kids Definition

creak

verb

ˈkrēk

: to make a long scraping or squeaking sound

also : to go slowly with or as if with creaking wheels

creak noun