# crawling

/ˈkɹɔɫɪŋ/ (US) · /kɹˈɔːlɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/crawling
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. moving on hands and knees

noun · CEFR B1

the way a baby or animal moves along the ground using their hands and knees.

For teachers: the physical act of locomotion on hands and knees, typical of human infants or certain animals.

- The baby is finally crawling across the living room floor to reach her toys.
- Crawling represents a significant developmental milestone for infants, as it requires the coordination of limbs and the strengthening of core muscles.

### 2. slow movement

noun · CEFR B2

moving very slowly, like cars in heavy traffic.

For teachers: a slow, steady, or laborious rate of progress, often used to describe traffic or mechanical movement.

- The traffic was crawling along the motorway because of the roadworks.
- The morning commute was reduced to a slow crawling pace after a minor collision blocked two lanes of the main bridge.

## Examples

- The baby is crawling across the floor toward her toys.
- Traffic was crawling along the motorway this morning because of the heavy rain.
- While the infant was content crawling through the grass, the adults watched the sunset from the porch, unaware of the small insects doing the same below them.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.