creak

1 of 2

verb

creaked; creaking; creaks
Synonyms of creaknext

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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
His leather jacket creaked audibly. Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026 Similarly, older floors tend to creak and squeak underfoot, and may even have loose staples, nails, or wooden splinters that can put you at risk. Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 25 Feb. 2026
Noun
Fennell begins on a black screen and the sound of creaks and moans. Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026 Two microphones angle towards the duduk to capture resonant moans, creaks, squeaks and honks akin to the bridge’s. Ruby Rosenthal, Chicago Tribune, 14 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for creak

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of creak was in 1582

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Creak.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/creak. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.

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

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