What are the definitions of “creep out”?
Learn how to use these expressions through these examples
- 1make someone feel worried or uneasy.
He CREEPS me OUT when he gets drunk.
What’s the most common meaning of the phrasal verb “creep out”?
The most common meaning of the phrasal verb creep out is to make someone feel worried, uneasy, or uncomfortable, usually because of strange or unsettling behavior. This can happen when someone acts in a creepy or unusual way.
What are the different verb forms of “creep out”?
| Root Verb | creep out |
| Third Person Singular Present | creeps out |
| Present Participle | creeping out |
| Simple Past | creeped out |
| Past Participle | creeped out |
Example
His strange behavior creeps me out.
Example
She creeps out her friends with her ghost stories.
Example
He is creeping out everyone at the party with his odd jokes.
Example
I was creeped out by the strange noises in the house.
Example
They were creeped out by the eerie atmosphere in the abandoned building.
What kind of phrasal verb is “creep out”?
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a transitive and intransitive verb? - A transitive verb always has an object after it. (Example: Sam bought a car.) - An intransitive verb never has an object.(Example: She laughed loudly.)
Transitive verb
“creep out” is a transitive phrasal verb because it requires a direct object to complete its meaning. The direct object specifies what is being removed, obtained, or eliminated.
Example
The dark alley creeped her out.
Example
His strange laugh creeped out the people around him.
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a separable and inseparable phrasal verb? - A “separable phrasal verb” can be separated with an object between the verb and particle. - An “inseparable phrasal verb” cannot be separated by an object.
Inseparable
“creep out” is an inseparable phrasal verb. This means that you can’t place an object between the verb and the particle, otherwise, it changes the meaning of the phrasal verb.
Example
The dark alley creeped her out.
Example
His strange laugh creeped out the people around him.
What are common phrases and expressions that include the phrasal verb “creep out”?
Good things to know
Does “creep out” have an informal or formal tone?
Creep out is an informal phrasal verb that is commonly used in everyday conversations. It is not typically used in formal settings or professional writing.
