creak

\ ˈkrēk

How to pronounce creak (audio)

\

creaked; creaking; creaks

Definition of creak

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

Definition of creak (Entry 2 of 2)

: a rasping or grating noise

Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about creak

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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 what is the point of all this flagellation, of self and others, if meanwhile the structures that enable wrongdoing continue to creak and loom, doing business as usual? — New York Times, "The Long and Tortured History of Cancel Culture," 3 Dec. 2020 Loneliness can account for our minds filling with lots of anxiety and fear and with that, every sound and creak and light change is amplified and could be the sign of something ghostly. — Leah Hall, Country Living, "Are Ghosts Real? We Got to the Bottom of the Age-Old Question," 21 Oct. 2020 Tesla claimed the structure began to creak and that panicked steelworkers came rushing out for fear of a deadly earthquake. — Tim Grierson, Popular Mechanics, "Why Nikola Tesla Was Such a Badass Scientist," 11 Aug. 2020 Listening to belugas: In the Arctic, beluga whales chirp, whistle, and creak to communicate with each other. — National Geographic, "Will travel improve after the virus subsides?," 21 July 2020 And if your knees creak from past injury or arthritis, try another exercise; running could worsen joint decay. — Gretchen Reynolds, Health.com, "How Much Exercise Do You Need, and Which Type is Best for You?," 11 June 2020 The body creaked and flexed, and the hatch rattled regularly. — Larry Griffin, Car and Driver, "Comparison Test: 1993 Toyota Supra Turbo Takes On the Best Sports Cars of the Early 1990s," 12 May 2020 Barges creaked and moaned in the distance as anchor-outs rowed to and from the shore, occasionally stopping to greet each other along the way. — Joe Kloc, Harper's magazine, "Lost at Sea," 10 June 2019 As the state creaks under the strain of the coronavirus pandemic, officials worry the mafia may be preparing to step in. — John Follain, Bloomberg.com, "Italy Risks Losing Grip in South With Fear of Looting, Riots," 20 May 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Shaking them around does deliver an audible creak at times as well — not the most assuring sound. — Jacob Krol, CNN Underscored, "Echo Frames represent the expensive, futuristic prospect of constant Alexa access," 22 Dec. 2020 The creak of wooden chairs registering in the rafters. — Washington Post, "As the novelty of Zoom wears off, classical music reluctantly embraces its new virtual reality," 30 Oct. 2020 In both situations, these were able to block noise — even without music playing — from nearby tables, silverware falling and even the occasional creak of a door slowly opening. — Benjamin Levin, CNN Underscored, "The best noise-canceling headphones of 2020," 21 Aug. 2020 As a set of waves rolls in, making the old pier creak, Prakash speculates that the line holding the trap must have been snapped in the surf, or broken off by sea lions. — Emily Underwood, The Atlantic, "The Search for the World’s Simplest Animal," 8 June 2020 Play it at night, when every creak and thump from the overhead air ducts will scare the bejesus out of you. — New York Times, "Some Alternatives for the Bored Gamer," 2 Apr. 2020 The creak of the floor, the open and close of a door. — Martin Savidge, CNN, "Quarantined away from my family ... in the same house," 20 Mar. 2020 The creak of the tack and the warm vitality of the horse were profoundly familiar, even in this new place. — Maggie Shipstead, Condé Nast Traveler, "In the Okavango Delta, Horseback Safaris Offer a Whole New Perspective," 11 Feb. 2020 Natalie Erika James' assured first feature demonstrates bracing command of atmospherics, from its tenebrous visuals and labyrinthine production design to its nerve-jangling use of music and a thick soundscape stew of bumps, creaks, thuds and groans. — David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Relic': Film Review | Sundance 2020," 27 Jan. 2020

These 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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Dictionary Entries near creak

C-reactive protein

Statistics for creak

Last Updated

16 Dec 2020

Cite this Entry

“Creak.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/creak. Accessed 16 Jan. 2021.

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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

\ 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

Kids Definition of creak (Entry 2 of 2)

: a long squeaking or scraping noise

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