From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishcreepcreep1 /kriːp/ ●●○ verb (past tense and past participle crept /krept/) [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] 1 MOVE/CHANGE POSITIONto move in a quiet, careful way, especially to avoid attracting attentioncreep 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.► see thesaurus at walk2 MOVE/CHANGE POSITIONif something such as an insect, small animal, or car creeps, it moves slowly and quietly → crawlcreep down/along/away etc a caterpillar creeping down my arm3 CHANGE FROM ONE THING TO ANOTHERto gradually enter something and change itcreep in/into/over etc Funny how religion is creeping into the environmental debate.4 HBPif a plant creeps, it grows or climbs up or along a particular placecreep up/over/around etc ivy creeping up the walls of the building5 DNAIRif mist, clouds etc creep, they gradually fill or cover a placecreep into/over etc Fog was creeping into the valley. 6 FRIENDLY British English informal to be insincerely nice to someone, especially someone in authority, in order to gain an advantage for yourselfcreep (up) to somebody I’m not the kind of person to creep to anybody.7 → somebody/something makes my flesh creep → creep somebody out → creep up on somebody/something→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
creep• Clouds crept across the horizon, just above the line of trees.• This relative of the dogwood family, whose trees are well known farther south, here creeps along just under the soil.• A sensible person respected the sleeping beast and crept away.• We crept down to the deserted library at the other end of the hall, so that we could talk.• She crept into Chrissy's room, shutting the door silently behind her.• No-one noticed that the little boy had crept into the room and was sitting there, listening.• But if you keep looking beyond the reflections you eventually notice the glow creeping into the sky.• Ron unlocked the back door and crept out into the yard.• As the sun began to set, long shadows seemed to creep out of the corners.• She crept up behind him and put her hands over his eyes.• Trying to stay calm, he crept up on the statue.• Armed men in ski masks crept up on the van and raked it with gunfire.• At five o'clock she returned to the theatre and crept up the stairs to the dressing-room.• The unemployment rate crept up to 5.7% in May.• Mooney glanced back as Al Bibeau crept up to him.creep into/over/around etc• Tiredness crept over her, making her eyelids droop.• The peace Sethe had come there to find crept into her.• He could not resist a faint smile creeping over his face.• The anguish crept into his voice.• Unable to let her out of my sight, I followed her upstairs and crept into the bedroom to be with her.• Later, under cover of darkness, they crept into the house, where Charles hid for the night in the attic.• It makes it impossible for anyone to creep around your house without making a noise.creep down/along/away etc• She went there, guilty at having crept away.• He was astounded to see a tear creep down her freckled cheek.• I crept away into the woods after an hour and his voice followed me there.• This relative of the dogwood family, whose trees are well known farther south, here creeps along just under the soil.• Dads creep along the baselines calling instructions as the dusk gathers in.• It was very easy to imagine eyes peering from the gloom, or strange beings creeping along the path behind them.• Slowly, step by step, she crept along the terrace until she stood there, looking in.• You creep along to an open doorway.creep in/into/over etc• Finally, I threw back the quilt, put the package on the pillow, and crept into bed.• She crept into Chrissy's room, shutting the door silently behind her.• He could not resist a faint smile creeping over his face.• Biases can creep in in extremely subtle ways, and researchers can, quite unconsciously, favour some groups and disfavour others.• Doubt crept in: Should he go to her house or not?• That has crept into the design.• I sit still for every creep in town.• Now the Derbyshire tradition has crept into Yorkshire, it seems it may be spreading.creep up/over/around etc• The first copper light of morning was creeping up Great Head bluff and spilling over the harbor.• But once she was alone with her knitting depression crept up on Leonora like an incoming tide.• It had been creeping up on me during the last couple of days.• Trying to stay calm, he crept up on the statue.• And all the while he had been creeping up on them, unseen.• It was a warm day when I saw a thick white fog gradually creeping up the sides of the hills.• At five o'clock she returned to the theatre and crept up the stairs to the dressing-room.• I crept around to the back of the house and watched as he carried her through the kitchen and into the garage.creep into/over etc• Finally, I threw back the quilt, put the package on the pillow, and crept into bed.• As he reviewed the figures a slight smirk crept over his face.• He could not resist a faint smile creeping over his face.• Later, under cover of darkness, they crept into the house, where Charles hid for the night in the attic.• But if you keep looking beyond the reflections you eventually notice the glow creeping into the sky.• A hint of duty had crept into their relationship.• Some reporters believe politicians are hypocrites, and that belief creeps into their reports.creep (up) to somebody• The state's original funding level was $ 3 million, creeping up to $ 5 million and then $ 6 million.• Mooney glanced back as Al Bibeau crept up to him.• A strange warmth crept up to his face.• She turned around and scampered back across the footpath to the gate, squeezed under and crept to the dish.• He crept to the door and opened it, blinking at the bright light.• Blowing out the candle, Tilly crept to the kitchen door and gingerly opened it.• It still gives me the creeps to think of it.creepcreep2 noun [countable] 1 UNPLEASANT especially American English informal someone who you dislike extremely Get lost, you little creep!2 FRIENDLY British English informal someone who tries to make you like them or do things for them by being insincerely nice to you Don’t try and flatter her – she doesn’t approve of creeps.3 → give somebody the creeps4 → mission/cost/grade etc creepExamples from the Corpus
creep• She's such a creep at work.• He didn't say that, did he? What a creep!• Will's the class creep, and the teachers don't notice.• Get out of here you little creep! You make me sick!• Little creeps, how heartened we were by our bold behavior.• As much as he gave her the creeps, there was also this secret fascination.• Those two were going to give her the creeps if she really had to take them all the way to Titan.• He seemed completely in his element, though all those monks flitting round the place rather gave me the creeps.• It gives me the creeps and I know it frightened the kiddies.Origin creep1 Old English creopan 