Crept
krept
Definitions
2 meaningsTo move slowly and carefully, especially to avoid being noticed.
krept
Past tense of 'creep' – to move slowly and carefully, especially to avoid being noticed.
The thief crept into the house.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're trying to sneak up on someone to surprise them. You move really slowly and quietly, like a cat, and that's what 'crept' means. For example, 'The dog crept up to the sleeping baby.'
👶 For kids: It's like when you walk really slowly and quietly so nobody sees you, like when you're playing hide-and-seek.
More Examples
The vines crept up the walls.
A chill crept down her spine.
How It's Used
"The cat crept through the bushes."
"As the shadows lengthened, fear crept into her heart."
"The soldiers crept forward in the darkness."
To occur or develop gradually or insidiously.
krept
Past tense of 'creep' - to occur or develop gradually or insidiously.
Fear crept into his heart as he walked through the dark forest.
💡 Simply: It's like something slowly starts to happen or appear, like a thought or feeling. For example, 'Worry crept into her mind as the deadline approached.'
👶 For kids: It's like when something starts to happen little by little.
More Examples
The feeling of loneliness crept over her after the party.
The realization crept over him.
How It's Used
"Doubt crept into her mind."
"The silence crept into the room."
Past tense and past participle of the verb 'creep', from Old English *crēopan*, meaning 'to creep, crawl'. Related to German *kriechen* and Dutch *kruipen*.
Found in writings from the Old English period onwards, with consistent use in various contexts.
Memory tip
Think of a spy *creeping* into a building at night. They *crept* to avoid detection.
Word Origin
"to creep, crawl"