to move slowly, quietly, and carefully, usually in order to avoid being noticed, to make someone feel nervous, uneasy, or frightened, a person who behaves in an unpleasantly or untrustworthy way

make one's skin crawl, give someone the heebie-jeebies, a creep in the grass

creep out, creep up on, the creeps

Formal and Informal Expressions of creep

In different contexts, you can replace 'creep' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'move stealthily, cause unease' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'sneak, weirdo' is a commonplace synonym.

creep: Explore its Definition & Usage

creep Definition

1to move slowly, quietly, and carefully, usually in order to avoid being noticed
2to make someone feel nervous, uneasy, or frightened
3a person who behaves in an unpleasantly or untrustworthy way

Using creep: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "creep" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
I crept up behind him and surprised him.
Example
The thought of spiders creeping around the house makes me uneasy.
Example
He gives me the creeps.
Example
He's a bit of a creep, always staring at people.

creep Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for creep

Antonyms for creep

Idioms Using creep

make one's skin crawl
to cause someone to feel a strong sense of disgust or fear
Example
The sight of the creepy crawlies made my skin crawl.
give someone the heebie-jeebies
to cause someone to feel nervous, uneasy, or frightened
Example
The old abandoned house gave me the heebie-jeebies.
a creep in the grass
a person who is deceitful or untrustworthy
Example
Watch out for him, he's a creep in the grass.

Phrases with creep

creep out
to cause someone to feel nervous, uneasy, or frightened
Example
The abandoned house really creeps me out.
creep up on
to approach someone or something quietly and slowly so as not to be noticed
Example
I crept up on the deer and managed to take a photo before it ran away.
the creeps
a feeling of fear or disgust
Example
The horror movie gave me the creeps.

Origins of creep

from Old English 'creopan', meaning 'to creep, crawl'

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Summary: creep in Brief

The term 'creep' [kriːp] can be used as a verb to describe slow, quiet, and careful movement, often to avoid being noticed. It can also mean to make someone feel nervous, uneasy, or frightened. As a noun, it refers to a person who behaves in an unpleasant or untrustworthy way. Phrases like 'creep out' and 'creep up on' extend the verb's usage, while idioms like 'make one's skin crawl' and 'give someone the heebie-jeebies' denote feelings of disgust or fear. 'A creep in the grass' refers to a deceitful or untrustworthy person.