creep

noun

1

: a movement of or like creeping

traffic moving at a creep

2

: a distressing sensation like that caused by the creeping of insects over one's flesh

especially : a feeling of apprehension or horror

—usually used in plural with the

That gives me the creeps.

3

: a feed trough accessible only by young animals and used especially to supply special or supplementary feed

called also creep feeder

4

: the slow change of dimensions of an object from prolonged exposure to high temperature or stress

5

: an unpleasant or obnoxious person

6

: a slow but persistent increase or elevation

This political inertia … makes budget creep inevitable.

—The Wall Street Journal

Synonyms of creep

• jerk
• bastard
• dog
• clown
• skunk
• rat

Examples of creep in a Sentence

I get the creeps every time he walks by.

I hate snakes. They give me the creeps.

That guy gives me the creeps.

Recent Examples on the Web

Capitalistic creep is overtaking live events. —Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 6 June 2026

Timothy O’Connor, executive director for the Los Angeles Office of Public Accountability, a spending watchdog, said his office is not convinced that the agency could minimize long-term cost creep, or that the new force would offset enough costs to justify the program. —Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026

In the dead of night, a group of armed thieves creeps toward a locked vault. —Olivia Potts, Longreads, 28 May 2026

Photos from the area showed cars slowly traveling through the floodwaters as water rises and creeps onto sidewalks in the area. —Steven Yablonski, CBS News, 28 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

First Known Use

1818, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing creep

• bracket creep
• creep out
• creep shot
• creep up on
• make someone's flesh crawl/creep
• make someone's skin crawl/creep
• make someone's skin/flesh creep
• mission creep

Rhymes for creep

• beep
• cheap
• deep
• heap
• jeep
• keep
• leap
• peep
• reap
• seep
• sheep
• sleep

Kids Definition

creep

1 of 2 verb

ˈkrēp 

crept ˈkrept  ; creeping

1

: to move along with the body close to the ground : move slowly on hands and knees

2

: to advance slowly, timidly, or quietly

the tide crept up the beach

3

: to spread or grow over the ground or a surface

a creeping vine

4

: to slip or gradually shift position

5

: to feel as though insects were crawling on the body

the shriek made my flesh creep

creep

2 of 2 noun

1

: a creeping movement

2

a

: a sensation like that of insects creeping over one's flesh

b

: a feeling of horror

—usually used in plural with the

the story gave me the creeps

3

: an unpleasant or hateful person