creeping
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.happening or spreading very slowly, often in a way that you do not notice at first.
adj.occurring or developing by slow, imperceptible degrees; often used to describe an insidious or unwanted progression.
Simple“The company is worried about the creeping costs of the new project.”
In context“Economists warned that creeping inflation could erode the value of household savings if the central bank failed to intervene early.”
Synonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.moving slowly and quietly so that nobody hears or sees you.
adj.moving with stealth or caution to avoid detection. Often used as a participle describing a physical action.
Simple“He heard a creeping sound on the stairs late at night.”
In context“The creeping figure in the shadows turned out to be nothing more than a stray cat exploring the alleyway.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
adj.describing a plant that grows along the ground or up a wall rather than standing straight.
adj.growing along the ground or other surfaces by means of extending stems or runners.
Simple“Creeping ivy covered the entire side of the old stone cottage.”
In context“The gardener recommended a creeping variety of thyme to fill the gaps between the paving stones in the courtyard.”
- 04 C2 Proficiency
n.the slow, quiet movement of someone or something.
n.the action or instance of moving stealthily or growing in a spreading manner.
Simple“The slow creeping of the mist across the fields made the morning feel eerie.”
In context“The silent creeping of the tide eventually cut off the path back to the mainland, catching the hikers by surprise.”
From Middle English crepynge, crepinde, crepende, crepande, from Old English crēopende, from Proto-Germanic kreupandz, present participle of Proto-Germanic kreupaną (“to creep, crawl”), equivalent to creep + -ing.
From Middle English creping, crepynge, from Old English crēopung, equivalent to creep + -ing.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.