Creeped vs. Crept, what’s the difference?
Here’s a quick test: What’s the past tense of creep? Is it crept or creeped? Do both work?
Which is correct: creeped or crept?
Creeped is used almost exclusively when talking about the feeling of being “creeped out” (unnerved, spooked). For all other uses—especially when describing literal, stealthy movement—crept is the historically preferred and standard form, though creeped is sometimes accepted in informal US English. The difference is in usage:
- Use crept for the past tense of “to move slowly or quietly.”
- Use creeped only for being “creeped out.”
| Correct usage | Incorrect usage |
|---|---|
| I crept quietly into the room. | They creeped along the fence. (should be crept) |
| That story really creeped me out. | They have creeped up the stairs. (should be crept) |
| She crept into my heart. | The spider creeped across the floor. (should be crept) |
As a verb, creep means to move slowly and carefully in order to avoid being heard or noticed (especially on foot). When describing a feeling, creep can also mean to make someone feel uneasy or scared (“creep someone out”).
Verb forms of creep
| Present | Past | Future | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple | I creep | I crept (or creeped) | I will creep |
| Continuous | I am creeping | I was creeping | I will be creeping |
| Perfect | I have crept (or creeped) | I had crept (or creeped) | I will have crept (or creeped) |
| Perfect continuous | I have been creeping | I had been creeping | I will have been creeping |
Irregular verbs like ‘creep’
| Base Verb | Past Tense | Past Participle |
|---|---|---|
| dream | dreamed/dreamt | dreamed/dreamt |
| burn | burned/burnt | burned/burnt |
| sleep | slept | slept |
| leap | leapt/leaped | leapt/leaped |
Use crept for movement, and creeped when describing the feeling of being “creeped out.” For most writing, especially formal, crept is safest.
Synonyms and related verbs
| Synonym | Example |
|---|---|
| glide | The owl glided silently through the night. |
| lurk | The cat lurked in the shadows. |
| slink | He slinked (or slunk) into the room, hoping not to be noticed. |
| slither | The snake slithered under the rocks. |
| sneak | She sneaked (or snuck) out after midnight. |
| tiptoe | The kids tiptoed down the hall. |
| wriggle | The worm wriggled across the pavement. |
Worksheet: verb usage
The cat ______ silently along the fence.
A feeling of unease had ______ over him as he entered the dark room.
Doubt often ______ into her mind before a big exam.
The ivy is slowly ______ up the side of the old stone wall.
Try not to ______ around the house late at night.
FAQs
What’s the past tense of “creep”?
+
When do I use “creeped”?
+
When do I use “crept”?
+
Is “creeped” correct for movement?
+
Is “creep” a regular verb?
+
Sources
- Harper, Douglas. “Etymology of creep.” Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/creep. Accessed 26 March, 2024.
- What’s the Past Tense of Creep?, Grammarflex
Yash, D. "How to Use Creeped or Crept (Explained, With Examples)." Grammarflex, Sep 11, 2025, https://grammarflex.com/creeped-or-crept/.
