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 crawled
-
present perfectof crawl.present perfect
Used to describe actions that started in the past and continue into or have direct relevance to the present.
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.
Since then, wages for 25-year-olds have crawled back up, almost to the point they were 20 years ago.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
Most people would have crawled to academia, grateful for tenure and dental insurance.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 15, 2025
“It’s a history that we have crawled our way slowly forward,” he added.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 11, 2023
As a terrestrial adult, it may have crawled from lake to lake, mating with local salamanders.
From Science Magazine ● May 8, 2023
They have been kept for years in pill boxes, and yet on subjecting them to moisture, have crawled about appearing as well as ever.
From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr
