creek

noun \ ˈkrēk , ˈkrik \

Definition of creek

1 chiefly British :a small inlet or bay narrower and extending farther inland than a cove

2 :a natural stream of water normally smaller than and often tributary to a river

3 archaic :a narrow or winding passage

— up the creek

:in a difficult or perplexing situation

See creek defined for English-language learners

See creek defined for kids

Examples of creek in a Sentence

The children waded in the creek.
The coast is dotted with tiny creeks.

Recent Examples of creek from the Web

The torrent scoured the mine tunnel and the enormous waste-rock pile outside, as well as the creek bed.

— rob gordon, National Review, "The EPA Still Hasn’t Been Held Accountable for the Gold King Mine Blowout," 28 July 2017
Our fearless leader awoke this morning and found himself up the creek without a paddle on healthcare, kind of like millions of Americans would have been if the Senate Republican bill had succeeded.

— jack holmes, Esquire, "Here's A Bald-Faced Lie From Your President This Morning," 18 July 2017
The male suspect, who was later identified as Raybon, threw the injured pregnant female in the creek.

— prescotte stokes iii, AL.com, "Atmore man accused of assaulting, attempting to drown pregnant woman in creek," 18 July 2017
The creek is being extended to the shores of the Persian Gulf to provide waterfront real estate to new luxury developments.

— jenny b. davis, star-telegram, "From shimmering sand dunes to glimmering skyscrapers, everything blings in Dubai," 17 July 2017
In the summers, Paul and Paulette George rented a Suburban and hauled their three kids 23 hours east to reunions in Texas and Louisiana, where their only son would ride horses and fish with cousins and splash around creeks.

— lee jenkins, SI.com, "Behind The Scenes Of Paul George's OKC Arrival," 14 July 2017
The area along the creek wasn’t developed until the 1800s, and industry was mostly limited to fishing, shipping and pearl diving (until the advent of cultured pearls tanked the market in the ’30s).

— star-telegram, star-telegram.com, "An Emirate Illuminated: from shimmering sand dunes to skyscrapers, everything blings in Dubai," 5 July 2017
Streams are running at flood level, some campgrounds have been closed due to flooding and portions of some creeks are considered extremely dangerous because of high water and significant undercutting of the banks.

— ernie cowan outdoors, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Coast to Crest Challenge open to hikers, cyclists," 24 June 2017
Gases from decaying livestock hides still occasionally bubble up from the creek bed.

— michael hawthorne, chicagotribune.com, "Chicago River still teems with bacteria flushed from sewers after storms," 23 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'creek.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of creek

Middle English crike, creke, from Old Norse -kriki bend

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

See Words from the same year

creek Synonyms

Synonyms

beck [British], bourn (or bourne), brook, brooklet, burn [British], gill [British], rill, rivulet, run [chiefly Midland], runlet, runnel, streamlet

Related Words

arroyo, billabong [Australian], fresh, freshet, runoff; bayou, coulee, slough (also slew or slue), stream, wash; canal, channel, cut, cutoff, gut, kill, millrace, millstream, race, watercourse, waterway; affluent, branch, confluent, distributary, influent, tributary

Other Geology Terms

anthracite, boulder, cwm, erratic, igneous, intrusive, mesa, sedimentary, silt, swale

Creek

noun \ ˈkrēk \

Definition of Creek

1 :an American Indian confederacy of peoples chiefly of Muskogean stock of Alabama, Georgia, and Florida

2 :a member of any of the Creek peoples

3 :the Muskogean language of the Creek Indians

See Creek defined for kids

Recent Examples of creek from the Web

The torrent scoured the mine tunnel and the enormous waste-rock pile outside, as well as the creek bed.

— rob gordon, National Review, "The EPA Still Hasn’t Been Held Accountable for the Gold King Mine Blowout," 28 July 2017
Our fearless leader awoke this morning and found himself up the creek without a paddle on healthcare, kind of like millions of Americans would have been if the Senate Republican bill had succeeded.

— jack holmes, Esquire, "Here's A Bald-Faced Lie From Your President This Morning," 18 July 2017
The male suspect, who was later identified as Raybon, threw the injured pregnant female in the creek.

— prescotte stokes iii, AL.com, "Atmore man accused of assaulting, attempting to drown pregnant woman in creek," 18 July 2017
The creek is being extended to the shores of the Persian Gulf to provide waterfront real estate to new luxury developments.

— jenny b. davis, star-telegram, "From shimmering sand dunes to glimmering skyscrapers, everything blings in Dubai," 17 July 2017
In the summers, Paul and Paulette George rented a Suburban and hauled their three kids 23 hours east to reunions in Texas and Louisiana, where their only son would ride horses and fish with cousins and splash around creeks.

— lee jenkins, SI.com, "Behind The Scenes Of Paul George's OKC Arrival," 14 July 2017
The area along the creek wasn’t developed until the 1800s, and industry was mostly limited to fishing, shipping and pearl diving (until the advent of cultured pearls tanked the market in the ’30s).

— star-telegram, star-telegram.com, "An Emirate Illuminated: from shimmering sand dunes to skyscrapers, everything blings in Dubai," 5 July 2017
Streams are running at flood level, some campgrounds have been closed due to flooding and portions of some creeks are considered extremely dangerous because of high water and significant undercutting of the banks.

— ernie cowan outdoors, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Coast to Crest Challenge open to hikers, cyclists," 24 June 2017
Gases from decaying livestock hides still occasionally bubble up from the creek bed.

— michael hawthorne, chicagotribune.com, "Chicago River still teems with bacteria flushed from sewers after storms," 23 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'Creek.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of creek

1725

British Definition of CREEK

creek

noun

British Definition of creek

:a small inlet or bay narrower and extending farther inland than a cove

— up the creek

CREEK Defined for English Language Learners

creek

noun

Definition of creek for English Language Learners

: a small stream

CREEK Defined for Kids

creek

noun \ ˈkrēk , ˈkrik \

Definition of creek for Students

:a stream of water usually larger than a brook and smaller than a river

Creek

noun \ ˈkrēk \

Definition of Creek for Students

1 :a confederacy of American Indian people once occupying most of Alabama and Georgia

2 :the language of the Creek people

Learn More about creek

See words that rhyme with creek Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for creek Spanish Central: Translation of creek Nglish: Translation of creek for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of creek for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about creek

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up creek? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

creek

Definition of creek

Indulge Your Inner Word Nerd

Examples of creek in a Sentence

Recent Examples of creek from the Web

Origin and Etymology of creek

creek Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Other Geology Terms

Creek

Definition of Creek

Recent Examples of creek from the Web

First Known Use of creek

British Definition of CREEK

creek

British Definition of creek

CREEK Defined for English Language Learners

creek

Definition of creek for English Language Learners

CREEK Defined for Kids

creek

Definition of creek for Students

Creek

Definition of Creek for Students

Learn More about creek

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

Learned Fools: On Names for Students

Trending: NY Times: Trump's Call Ignites 'Imbroglio'

The Exceptions Quiz III

17 English Words that Come From Japanese

Words of the Year: 1066