# Creek

/ˈkɹik/ (US) · /kɹˈiːk/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/creek
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

a small stream or a narrow river. In some places, it can also mean a narrow area of water that goes from the sea into the land.

For teachers: a natural stream of water, normally smaller than and often tributary to a river. In British English, it specifically refers to a narrow, sheltered inlet of the sea.

## Examples

- The children spent the afternoon playing by the creek.
- Heavy rainfall caused the small creek behind the house to overflow its banks and flood the garden.
- The property line follows the winding path of the creek, providing a natural boundary that separates the dense woodland from the cultivated fields.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used in North American and Australian English to describe any small stream; in British English, it usually refers to a tidal inlet.

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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.