To move slowly and carefully, especially in order to avoid being noticed; to advance stealthily or cautiously. It can also refer to the gradual and often unnoticed development or occurrence of something. This movement can be physical, like a person or animal creeping, or abstract, like a feeling or idea creeping into someone's mind. The emphasis is on a slow, quiet, and possibly secretive manner of movement or progression.
Crept meaning with examples
- The burglar crept silently through the shadows of the house, his footsteps barely audible on the wooden floors. He moved with a deliberate slowness, avoiding any potential obstacles or areas where he might be seen. His goal was to reach the valuables without making a single sound, employing all the stealth he could muster in the cover of darkness.
- As the exam period approached, a feeling of anxiety crept over the students. The pressure to perform well and the fear of failure subtly increased with each passing day. The worry wasn't sudden, but rather a gradual, almost imperceptible, invasion of their thoughts, affecting their sleep and overall well-being.
- The ivy crept up the old stone wall, slowly but surely covering the surface with its green tendrils. Year after year, it extended its reach, intertwining with the bricks and mortar. This persistent and slow advancement transformed the landscape, creating a beautiful and natural aesthetic against the building's coldness.
- The new legislation, seemingly innocuous at first, crept into law with minimal public scrutiny. Its implications, slowly becoming clear over time, profoundly affected civil liberties. This understated introduction, followed by unforeseen effects, highlighted how some policies can stealthily alter the societal balance, altering it significantly later on.
Crept Crossword Answers
5 Letters
EDGED SNUCK
6 Letters
INCHED
7 Letters
SNEAKED
11 Letters
PUSSYFOOTED