creep
verb (used without object)
to move slowly with the body close to the ground, as a reptile or an insect, or a person on hands and knees.
had crept
-
past perfectof creep.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Despite her $194,000 salary, Clarke’s Chase Sapphire credit-card balance had crept up to $15,000.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 29, 2026
The stock surged 8.5% after the company said late Wednesday that it had grown more cautious on its outlook for demand, but that beer sales had crept higher during its fourth quarter.
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 9, 2026
Before this series began, Stokes said the time off after his January operation had allowed him to iron out unintentional eccentricities that had crept into his bowling.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2025
Downstairs, our super was working to remove water that had crept into the building.
From Slate ● Sep. 29, 2023
An anxious insistence had crept into Herbie’s voice.
From "I, Robot" by Isaac Asimov
