creep up on
phrasal verb
crept up on; creeping up on; creeps up on
informal
: to slowly and quietly move closer to (someone) without being noticed
We tried to creep up on them but they heard our footsteps.
—often used figurativelyOld age creeps up on us.
The deadline had crept up on them.
Examples of creep up on in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
That being said, the holidays are creeping up on us, so don’t sleep on Nocturnal’s Japandi Luxury Set, which complements the serum with a refill bottle and a chic Knot Bag for good measure.
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Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 17 Sep. 2025
Mary’s hands will reach out of the mirror and creep up on either side of a teenager sitting at the dining room table.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 16 Sep. 2025
Still, it’s been hard to ignore the daunting finality that has been creeping up on us for years.
—Don Riddell, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2025
After being swept by the Marlins over the weekend, the Yankees will look to rebound against a surging Rangers team that is creeping up on them in the wild card standings.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for creep up on
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Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 17 Sep. 2025
Mary’s hands will reach out of the mirror and creep up on either side of a teenager sitting at the dining room table.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 16 Sep. 2025
Still, it’s been hard to ignore the daunting finality that has been creeping up on us for years.
—Don Riddell, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2025
After being swept by the Marlins over the weekend, the Yankees will look to rebound against a surging Rangers team that is creeping up on them in the wild card standings.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for creep up on
Cite this Entry
“Creep up on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/creep%20up%20on. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.
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