creeping
word · lemma: creep
/ˈkɹipɪŋ/
KREEP-ing
/kɹˈiːpɪŋ/
KREEP-ing
Definition
Moving slowly, quietly, and carefully, often to avoid being noticed; can also refer to something spreading or increasing gradually.
Usage & Nuances
Formal and informal; often used for people, animals, or things moving quietly, and also for negative things (fear, doubt, prices) increasing slowly ('creeping doubt', 'creeping inflation'). Not the same as 'crawling', which usually means moving on hands and knees.
Spanish: arrastrándose - avanzando lentamente - sigilosoPortuguese (BR): rastrejando - rastejando - avançando lentamentePortuguese (PT): rastejando - avançando lentamenteChinese (Simplified): 悄悄地移动 - 蔓延Chinese (Traditional): 悄悄地移動 - 蔓延Hindi: चुपके से चलना - धीरे-धीरे फैलनाArabic: يزحف - يتسلل - ينتشر ببطءBengali: ধীরে ধীরে এগিয়ে যাওয়া - চুপচাপ চলাRussian: крадущийся - ползущий - медленно распространяющийсяJapanese: 忍び寄る - 徐々に広がるVietnamese: rón rén di chuyển - lan rộng dần dầnKorean: 살금살금 움직이는 - 서서히 퍼지는Turkish: sürünerek ilerleyen - yavaşça yayılanUrdu: دبے پاؤں چلنا - آہستہ آہستہ پھیلناIndonesian: merayap - merambat
Example Sentences
A plant was creeping across the garden fence.
basic
Fear is creeping into his mind.
basic
I caught him creeping out of the kitchen late at night.
natural
Prices have been creeping up this year.
natural
There's a creeping sense of doubt about the plan.
natural
The cat is creeping along the wall.
basic