crawl
verb (used without object)
to move in a prone position with the body resting on or close to the ground, as a worm or caterpillar, or on the hands and knees, as a young child.
have been crawling
-
present perfect progressiveof crawl.present perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that began in the past, has continued continuously, and is still in progress.
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.
A postbox has been closed because snails have been crawling inside and munching the mail.
From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2024
Suspended in fossilized dollops of golden tree resin, these ants, spiders and beetles look like they could have been crawling around just moments ago.
From Scientific American ● Jun. 30, 2021
Heavy machines have been crawling over roadways gouged into rocky mountainsides, tapping open holes for posts on U.S.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 21, 2021
With the warm weather this month, the nymphs have been crawling out of the ground before moulting for one last time and taking wing.
From Nature ● May 29, 2013
By that time it must have been crawling with Eyes up there, and everywhere else close to the border.
From "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood
