Creep
/kriːp/
Definitions
3 meaningsTo move slowly and cautiously, often close to the ground or in a stealthy manner.
/kriːp/
To move slowly and carefully, especially to avoid being noticed.
The thief crept into the house.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're playing hide-and-seek. Creeping means moving super slow and quiet, so the person looking for you doesn't see or hear you. Like when you sneak into the kitchen to get a cookie!
👶 For kids: To move really slowly and quietly, like a snail.
More Examples
The shadows crept across the walls as the sun set.
She crept out of the room so she wouldn't wake the baby.
How It's Used
"The cat crept silently across the room."
"The soldiers crept through the jungle."
To gradually happen or begin to exist, often in a way that is not desired or noticeable at first.
/kriːp/
To gradually spread or develop (used about something unpleasant).
Doubt began to creep into her mind.
💡 Simply: Imagine a little worry that slowly starts to bother you. It creeps in slowly, so you might not notice it at first, but then it's all you can think about!
👶 For kids: To slowly spread or grow, like a shadow getting bigger.
More Examples
The mold crept up the walls.
As the deadline approached, anxiety began to creep in.
How It's Used
"Fear crept into his heart."
"The disease crept through the population."
A person who makes you feel uneasy or uncomfortable, often due to their behavior.
/kriːp/
A person who behaves in an offensively strange or unpleasant way.
He's such a creep, always staring at people.
💡 Simply: A 'creep' is like a person who acts super weird and makes you feel icky or uncomfortable, like they're watching you a little too much or saying strange things. You just get a bad feeling!
👶 For kids: Someone who acts in a way that makes you feel yucky or scared.
More Examples
I saw a creep hanging around the school.
She felt uneasy around the man, considering him a creep.
How It's Used
"That guy at the party was such a creep."
"I felt uncomfortable when he kept staring - he was a real creep."
Idioms & expressions
the creeps
A feeling of unease or fear.
"That movie gave me the creeps."
From Old English crēopan, related to German kriechen, meaning 'to crawl, move slowly'.
Used in Old English to describe physical movement, later evolving to encompass emotional and social contexts.
Memory tip
Imagine a cat slowly moving forward, avoiding obstacles. It's a creep!