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| Language: | Old English |
| Origin: | creopan |
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Related topics:creep1
past tense and past participle crept
[intransitive always + adverb/preposition]
past tense and past participle crept
[intransitive always + adverb/preposition]1 to move in a quiet, careful way, especially to avoid attracting attention
creep into/over/around etc 
Johann would creep into the gallery to listen to the singers.He crept back up the stairs, trying to avoid the ones that creaked.
Johann would creep into the gallery to listen to the singers.He crept back up the stairs, trying to avoid the ones that creaked.2 if something such as an insect, small animal, or car creeps, it moves slowly and quietly [↪ crawl]
3 to gradually enter something and change it
4HBP if a plant creeps, it grows or climbs up or along a particular place
5DN if mist, clouds etc creep, they gradually fill or cover a place
6 British English informal to be insincerely nice to someone, especially someone in authority, in order to gain an advantage for yourself
7 used to say that someone or something makes you feel strong dislike or fear : His glassy stare made my flesh creep.
somebody/something makes my flesh creep
His glassy stare made my flesh creep.creep up on somebody/something
phrasal verb1 to surprise someone by walking up behind them silently : Don't yell - let's creep up on them and scare them.
Don't yell - let's creep up on them and scare them.2 if a feeling or idea creeps up on you, it gradually increases : The feeling she had for Malcolm had crept up on her and taken her by surprise.
The feeling she had for Malcolm had crept up on her and taken her by surprise.3 to seem to come sooner than you expect : Somehow, the end of term had crept up on us.
Somehow, the end of term had crept up on us.