creep up on
phrasal verb
crept up on; creeping up on; creeps up on
informal
: to slowly and quietly move closer to (someone) without being noticed
We tried to creep up on them but they heard our footsteps.
—often used figurativelyOld age creeps up on us.
The deadline had crept up on them.
Examples of creep up on in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Yes, age is creeping up on Realmuto, and that may be one reason the contract negotiations aren’t complete.
—
Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes.com, 6 Jan. 2026
Something else to consider, per Dr. Cronin: Elevated blood pressure usually doesn’t cause any symptoms, so this can creep up on you.
—Korin Miller, SELF, 11 Dec. 2025
Character insights creep up on you and ring absolutely true, while the tightly focused narrative opens broader questions of memory, authenticity, and intimacy.
—Miriam Gershow, Literary Hub, 1 Dec. 2025
That’s especially critical as the holiday season—and its related shopping holidays, like Black Friday and Cyber Monday—creep up on companies.
—Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for creep up on
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Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes.com, 6 Jan. 2026
Something else to consider, per Dr. Cronin: Elevated blood pressure usually doesn’t cause any symptoms, so this can creep up on you.
—Korin Miller, SELF, 11 Dec. 2025
Character insights creep up on you and ring absolutely true, while the tightly focused narrative opens broader questions of memory, authenticity, and intimacy.
—Miriam Gershow, Literary Hub, 1 Dec. 2025
That’s especially critical as the holiday season—and its related shopping holidays, like Black Friday and Cyber Monday—creep up on companies.
—Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for creep up on
Cite this Entry
“Creep up on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/creep%20up%20on. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
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