crept: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1 (Intermediate)Neutral to slightly formal; common in both spoken and written narratives.
Quick answer
What does “crept” mean?
past tense and past participle of 'creep': to move slowly, quietly, and carefully, usually to avoid being noticed.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
past tense and past participle of 'creep': to move slowly, quietly, and carefully, usually to avoid being noticed.
Also used metaphorically to describe things that spread, develop, or occur gradually and often imperceptibly (e.g., costs, age, suspicion).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major grammatical or semantic differences. The word form 'crept' is standard in both varieties.
Connotations
Slight potential for more frequent metaphorical use (e.g., 'jet lag crept up on me') in informal American English.
Frequency
Equally common in both dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “crept” in a Sentence
Subject + crept + prepositional phrase (e.g., 'He crept into the room').Subject + crept + adverb particle (e.g., 'The cat crept out').Metaphorical: Subject + crept + into/over/across + noun phrase (e.g., 'A feeling of dread crept over her').Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “crept” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The fog crept in from the Thames.
- He crept round to the back garden.
- A sense of unease crept upon the guests.
American English
- The cat crept up on the bird.
- She crept out the back door.
- Voter apathy crept into the political process.
adverb
British English
- N/A (No standard adverbial use).
American English
- N/A (No standard adverbial use).
adjective
British English
- N/A (No standard adjectival use).
American English
- N/A (No standard adjectival use).
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"Inflation has crept back up to 3% this quarter."
Academic
"A methodological error crept into the analysis during the data-cleaning phase."
Everyday
"I crept downstairs so I wouldn't wake the baby."
Technical
"Corrosion had crept along the weld, compromising the structure."
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “crept”
- Using 'creeped' as the past tense (non-standard).
- Confusing 'crept' with 'crawled'.
- Overusing in non-narrative, everyday speech where 'went quietly' might be more natural.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'creeped' is non-standard. The correct past tense and past participle is 'crept'. 'Creeped' is sometimes used informally in the phrase 'creeped out' (meaning felt revulsion or fear), but even there, 'crept' is the traditional form for the verb.
'Crept' implies moving slowly and stealthily, typically upright or on feet, to avoid detection. 'Crawled' implies moving on hands and knees or with the body close to the ground, and does not necessarily imply stealth (e.g., a baby crawls, traffic crawls).
Yes, commonly in metaphorical or personified contexts. For example, 'The fog crept in,' 'Doubt crept into his thoughts,' or 'A crack crept across the windshield.'
It is an irregular verb. The base form is 'creep', the simple past and past participle are both 'crept'.
past tense and past participle of 'creep': to move slowly, quietly, and carefully, usually to avoid being noticed.
Crept is usually neutral to slightly formal; common in both spoken and written narratives. in register.
Crept: in British English it is pronounced /krɛpt/, and in American English it is pronounced /krɛpt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “crept up on me (surprised me gradually)”
- “crept into the conversation (was introduced subtly)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CAT that 'crept' PAST you silently. Both 'cat' and 'past' contain the 'a' sound that changes to 'e' in 'crept' from 'creep'.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME/CHANGE IS STEALTHY MOVEMENT (e.g., age creeps up on you).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'crept' METAPHORICALLY?