# creep

/ˈkɹip/ (US) · /kɹˈiːp/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. to move quietly

verb · CEFR B1

to move slowly and quietly so that people do not hear or see you.

For teachers: to move stealthily or cautiously, often with the body close to the ground, to avoid detection.

- I tried to creep up the stairs so I wouldn't wake my parents.
- The burglar attempted to creep through the darkened hallway, mindful of the creaking floorboards that might alert the sleeping residents.

### 2. to change slowly

verb · CEFR B2

to happen or change very slowly over a long time.

For teachers: to occur or develop gradually and almost imperceptibly.

- Doubt began to creep into her mind as the deadline approached.
- Errors began to creep into the data set after the software update, causing significant discrepancies in the final quarterly report.

### 3. to grow along a surface

verb · CEFR B2

to grow along the ground or over a wall instead of growing upwards.

For teachers: to grow along a surface by means of extending stems or roots.

- Ivy started to creep across the old stone walls of the garden.
- The invasive vines began to creep over the perimeter fence, eventually smothering the native shrubs in the lower garden.

### 4. an unpleasant person

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

an unpleasant person who makes you feel nervous or uncomfortable.

For teachers: a derogatory term for a person perceived as strange, eccentric, or socially inappropriate, often with a predatory connotation.

- That guy at the party was a total creep; he wouldn't stop staring at us.
- She felt uneasy when the stranger followed her into the lift, later describing him to security as a complete creep.

### 5. gradual expansion

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic · Formal

when a project or plan slowly grows bigger than it was supposed to be.

For teachers: the gradual expansion of a project, goal, or boundary beyond its original scope, typically viewed as a negative development.

- We need to finish the project now before more feature creep happens.
- The manager warned that mission creep was draining the department's resources, distracting the team from their primary objectives.

Usage: Often used in the compound 'scope creep' in business contexts.

### 6. material deformation

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

the slow change in the shape of a solid material because of heat or pressure.

For teachers: the slow, progressive deformation of a solid material under constant mechanical stress.

- Engineers must consider the creep of the metal when designing jet engines.
- The structural integrity of the bridge was compromised by thermal creep, as the lead supports had gradually shifted over decades of extreme temperature fluctuations.

### 7. geological movement

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

the very slow movement of soil or rocks down a hill.

For teachers: the slow, imperceptible downslope movement of surface rock and soil particles.

- You can see the effects of soil creep by the way the trees lean on the hillside.
- Geologists monitored the hillside for signs of creep, noting that the fence line had moved several inches since the previous survey.

## Examples

- That guy at the bus stop is a total creep.
- She stopped going to that gym because some creep kept following her around and staring at her while she worked out.

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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.