Words / B2

KREEP/kriːp/

To creep is to move slowly and quietly, often secretly; also to change gradually (prices creep up); as a noun, slow movement of soil (soil creep): creep in; creep up on. Crawl is a close twin; seepage is a water twin. Soil creep featured in the slope case. Mix-up: creep vs crepe; creek; do not write creep as an insult for a person unless the source uses that informal noun.

Meaning

To move slowly and quietly, often secretly; also to change gradually (prices creep up); as a noun, slow movement of soil (soil creep).

Examples

• “Soil creep featured in the slope case, the geography paper said.”
• “Prices crept up after the levy, the accounts said, which is the gradual-change sense — still quote the £ figure.”

Good to know

creep in / up (on); soil creep; creeping + noun. Close: crawl / seepage. Informal noun: an unpleasant person (avoid unless quoted). Trap: crepe / creek. Geography, economics, and literature. Slow quiet movement, gradual change, or soil movement — specify.

Near in meaning

crawl, steal, seepage

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