verb
creep
kreep
verb
1
To move slowly, quietly, or close to the ground.
"She crept down the stairs so as not to wake anyone."
"Ivy had crept up the entire side of the old house."
2
To change or increase very gradually, often in an unwelcome way.
"Costs have been creeping up all year."
noun
1
An unpleasant or unsettling person, especially one who behaves in a sexually inappropriate way.
"She blocked him after he turned out to be a total creep."
How to Use Creep
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMoving slowly and quietly, or (as a noun, informally) a person who makes others uncomfortable.
When to use it
The noun sense meaning "unsettling person" is informal.
Common pairings
creep up on
give someone the creeps
prices creep up
Word Forms
crept past tense, creeped past tense, crope past tense, cropen past tense, creeps plural, creeps singular
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “creep”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
Costs have been _____ up all year.
Etymology
From Old English creopan, "to crawl", from a prehistoric Germanic root meaning "to twist" — related to "crawl" and "cripple".