Creep

/kriːp/

Meaning & Definition

noun

a slow, stealthy movement.

He felt a creep of unease as he entered the dark room.

a person who is considered obnoxious or unpleasant, especially someone who is overly ingratiating towards others.

I can't stand that creep who always sits too close and stares.

verb

to move slowly and carefully, especially in order to avoid being heard or noticed.

She had to creep past the sleeping dog to avoid waking it up.

to advance gradually and stealthily.

The fog began to creep over the valley as night fell.

to gradually increase in a certain quality or condition, often to an undesirable degree.

The prices of groceries seem to creep higher every month.

Middle English 'crepen', from Old English 'cripian' meaning 'to move slowly'.

creep up on someone

To approach someone quietly or stealthily without being noticed.

give the creeps

To cause a feeling of discomfort or fear.

creep around

To move about stealthily, often in a sneaky or underhanded manner.

crawl

To move on hands and knees.

sneak

To move in a secretive manner.

skulk

To move stealthily or furtively.

A person who behaves inappropriately towards others, often with unwelcome advances.

He's such a creep, always staring at girls.

To feel uneasy or disturbed by a situation or person.

That whole scene gave me the creeps.