Crawl vs. Creep — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 26, 2023
"Crawl" generally means to move slowly on hands and knees, especially like a baby. "Creep" means to move slowly and quietly, often stealthily. Both suggest slow movement, but their contexts and nuances differ.
Difference Between Crawl and Creep
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Key Differences
"Crawl" and "Creep" both conjure images of slow movement, but they diverge in context and implication. When one thinks of "Crawl," the image that often emerges is of babies or individuals moving on all fours, making their way forward slowly and laboriously. On the other hand, "Creep" often brings to mind a quieter, stealthy motion, usually linked with trying not to be noticed.
In various contexts, "Crawl" can evoke the idea of a deliberate yet slow progression. For instance, traffic might "Crawl" during rush hour, signifying a sluggish movement. "Creep," conversely, can denote a slow encroachment or development of something, often unexpected or unwanted. For instance, fog might "Creep" over a town, slowly blanketing it.
"Crawl" has associations beyond just movement. It can also refer to a method of swimming, the front crawl, which is characterized by alternate stroking of the arms. "Creep," on the flip side, has additional connotations related to feelings, such as when something "gives you the creeps," meaning it's unsettling or eerie.
In the digital realm, "Crawl" has another meaning. Search engines "Crawl" the web, systematically browsing sites to index them. "Creep," however, remains more rooted in its primary meanings and doesn't carry the same digital connotation.
To sum up, while both "Crawl" and "Creep" denote a kind of slow movement, the context, connotations, and nuances of each term set them apart. It's the difference between a baby's exploration (Crawl) and a cat's stealthy approach to its prey (Creep).
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Comparison Chart
Primary Meaning
Move slowly on hands and knees.
Move slowly, quietly, often stealthily.
Associated Context
Babies, swimming, web indexing.
Stealth, slow encroachment, eerie feelings.
Speed
Slow, often deliberate.
Slow, often with the intent to be unnoticed.
Connotations
Laborious, methodical.
Stealthy, unsettling.
Usage in Technology
Refers to search engines indexing the web.
Doesn't have a specific tech-related meaning.
Compare with Definitions
Crawl
To move slowly on hands and knees.
The baby began to crawl across the room.
Creep
To move slowly, quietly, and stealthily.
The cat tried to creep up on the bird.
Crawl
A specific swimming stroke.
She perfected her crawl in the swimming class.
Creep
To grow or spread slowly.
The ivy began to creep up the wall.
Crawl
To progress at a slow pace.
Traffic was crawling during the morning rush.
Creep
To cause an unsettling feeling.
That old mansion gives me the creeps.
Crawl
To be covered with moving things.
The rotten fruit was crawling with ants.
Creep
To change shape permanently from prolonged stress or exposure.
The material began to creep under the constant load.
Crawl
For search engines to index websites.
Search engines crawl the web to provide relevant results.
Creep
Move slowly and carefully in order to avoid being heard or noticed
He crept downstairs, hardly making any noise
They were taught how to creep up on an enemy
Crawl
Move forward on the hands and knees or by dragging the body close to the ground
They crawled from under the table
Creep
(of a negative characteristic or fact) occur or develop gradually and almost imperceptibly
Errors crept into his game
Crawl
Behave obsequiously or ingratiatingly in the hope of gaining someone's favour
A reporter's job can involve crawling to objectionable people
Creep
A detestable person
I thought he was a nasty little creep
Crawl
Be covered or crowded with (insects or people), to an extent that is objectionable
The floor was dirty and crawling with bugs
Creep
Slow steady movement, especially when imperceptible
An attempt to prevent this slow creep of costs
Crawl
(of a program) systematically visit (a number of web pages) in order to create an index of data
Its automated software robots crawl websites, grabbing copies of pages to index
Creep
An opening in a hedge or wall for an animal to pass through
Low in the wall are creeps, through which ewes gain access to grazing from the pastures behind
Crawl
An act of moving on one's hands and knees or dragging one's body along the ground
They began the crawl back to their own lines
Creep
Solid food given to young farm animals in order to wean them
We've started to wean the lambs earlier and to keep them on creep
Crawl
A swimming stroke involving alternate overarm movements and rapid kicks of the legs
She could do the crawl and so many other strokes
Creep
To move with the body close to the ground, as on hands and knees.
Crawl
To move slowly on the hands and knees or by dragging the body along the ground; creep
The baby crawled across the floor.
Creep
To move stealthily or cautiously.
Crawl
To advance slowly, feebly, laboriously, or with frequent stops
We crawled along in traffic until we reached the highway.
Creep
To move or proceed very slowly
Traffic creeps at that hour.
Crawl
To proceed or act servilely
"She was going to come crawling back to me, eloquently detailing exactly how sorry she was" (Emily Griffin).
Creep
To grow or spread along a surface, rooting at intervals or clinging by means of suckers or tendrils.
Crawl
To be or feel as if swarming or covered with moving things
The accident scene was crawling with police officers. My flesh crawled in horror.
Creep
To grow horizontally under the ground, as the rhizomes of many plants.
Crawl
To swim the crawl.
Creep
To slip out of place; shift gradually.
Crawl
The action of moving slowly on the hands or knees or dragging the body along the ground.
Creep
To have a tingling sensation, made by or as if by things moving stealthily
A moan that made my flesh creep.
Crawl
An extremely slow pace
Traffic was moving at a crawl.
Creep
The act of creeping; a creeping motion or progress.
Crawl
(Sports) A rapid swimming stroke consisting of alternating overarm strokes and a flutter kick.
Creep
(Slang) An annoyingly unpleasant, unsettling, or repulsive person.
Crawl
A set of letters or figures that move across, up, or down a movie or television screen, usually giving information, such as film credits or weather alerts. Also called crawler.
Creep
A slow flow of metal when under high temperature or great pressure.
Crawl
A social activity that consists of going to a series of related establishments one after the other
A bar crawl.
A museum crawl.
Creep
A slow change in a characteristic of electronic equipment, such as a decrease in power with continued usage.
Crawl
A pen in shallow water, as for confining fish or turtles.
Creep
A usually unplanned and gradual shift or increase in uses or objectives away from what was originally specified or limited. Often used in combination
The function creep of using social security numbers for general identification purposes.
Mission creep from a military peacekeeping role to one of providing economic development.
Crawl
(intransitive) To creep; to move slowly on hands and knees, or by dragging the body along the ground.
Clutching my wounded side, I crawled back to the trench.
Creep
(Geology) The slow movement of rock debris and soil down a weathered slope.
Crawl
(intransitive) To move forward slowly, with frequent stops.
The rush-hour traffic crawled around the bypass.
Creep
Creeps Informal A sensation of fear or repugnance, as if things were crawling on one's skin
That house gives me the creeps.
Crawl
(intransitive) To act in a servile manner.
Don’t come crawling to me with your useless apologies!
Creep
(intransitive) To move slowly with the abdomen close to the ground.
Lizards and snakes crept over the ground.
Crawl
(intransitive) Followed by with: see crawl with.
Creep
To grow across a surface rather than upwards.
Crawl
(intransitive) To feel a swarming sensation.
The horrible sight made my skin crawl.
Creep
(intransitive) To move slowly and quietly in a particular direction.
He tried to creep past the guard without being seen.
Crawl
To swim using the crawl stroke.
I think I’ll crawl the next hundred metres.
Creep
(intransitive) To make small gradual changes, usually in a particular direction.
Prices have been creeping up all year.
Crawl
(transitive) To move over (an area) on hands and knees.
The baby crawled the entire second floor.
Creep
To move in a stealthy or secret manner; to move imperceptibly or clandestinely; to steal in; to insinuate itself or oneself.
Old age creeps upon us.
Crawl
(transitive) To move over (an area) slowly, with frequent stops.
They crawled the downtown bars.
Creep
To slip, or to become slightly displaced.
The collodion on a negative, or a coat of varnish, may creep in drying.
The quicksilver on a mirror may creep.
Crawl
To visit files or web sites in order to index them for searching.
Yahoo Search has updated its Slurp Crawler to crawl websites faster and more efficiently.
Creep
To move or behave with servility or exaggerated humility; to fawn.
A creeping sycophant.
Crawl
The act of moving slowly on hands and knees, etc.
Creep
To have a sensation as of insects creeping on the skin of the body; to crawl.
The sight made my flesh creep.
Crawl
The act of sequentially visiting a series of similar establishments (i.e., a bar crawl).
Creep
To drag in deep water with creepers, as for recovering a submarine cable.
Crawl
A rapid swimming stroke with alternate overarm strokes and a fluttering kick.
Creep
The movement of something that creeps (like worms or snails).
Crawl
(figurative) A very slow pace.
My computer has slowed down to a crawl since I installed that software package.
Creep
A relatively small gradual change, variation or deviation (from a planned value) in a measure.
Crawl
A piece of horizontally or vertically scrolling text overlaid on the main image.
Creep
A slight displacement of an object; the slight movement of something.
Crawl
A pen or enclosure of stakes and hurdles for holding fish.
Creep
(uncountable) The gradual expansion or proliferation of something beyond its original goals or boundaries, considered negatively.
Christmas creep
Feature creep
Instruction creep
Mission creep
Crawl
To move slowly by drawing the body along the ground, as a worm; to move slowly on hands and knees; to creep.
A worm finds what it searches after only by feeling, as it crawls from one thing to another.
Creep
(publishing) In sewn books, the tendency of pages on the inside of a quire to stand out farther than those on the outside of it.
Crawl
To move or advance in a feeble, slow, or timorous manner.
He was hardly able to crawl about the room.
The meanest thing that crawl'd beneath my eyes.
Creep
(materials science) An increase in strain with time; the gradual flow or deformation of a material under stress.
Crawl
To advance slowly and furtively; to insinuate one's self; to advance or gain influence by servile or obsequious conduct.
Secretly crawling up the battered walls.
Hath crawled into the favor of the king.
Absurd opinions crawl about the world.
Creep
(geology) The imperceptible downslope movement of surface rock.
Crawl
The act or motion of crawling; slow motion, as of a creeping animal.
Creep
Someone unpleasantly strange or eccentric.
Crawl
A pen or inclosure of stakes and hurdles on the seacoast, for holding fish.
Creep
A frightening and/or disconcerting person, especially one who gives the speaker chills.
Stop following me, you creep!
Crawl
A very slow movement;
The traffic advanced at a crawl
Creep
(agriculture) A barrier with small openings used to keep large animals out while allowing smaller animals to pass through.
Crawl
A swimming stroke; arms are moved alternately overhead accompanied by a flutter kick
Creep
To move along the ground, or on any other surface, on the belly, as a worm or reptile; to move as a child on the hands and knees; to crawl.
Ye that walkThe earth, and stately tread, or lowly creep.
Crawl
A slow creeping mode of locomotion (on hands and knees or dragging the body);
A crawl was all that the injured man could manage
The traffic moved at a creep
Creep
To move slowly, feebly, or timorously, as from unwillingness, fear, or weakness.
The whining schoolboy . . . creeping, like snail,Unwillingly to school.
Like a guilty thing, I creep.
Crawl
Move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground;
The crocodile was crawling along the riverbed
Creep
To move in a stealthy or secret manner; to move imperceptibly or clandestinely; to steal in; to insinuate itself or one's self; as, age creeps upon us.
The sophistry which creeps into most of the books of argument.
Of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women.
Crawl
Feel as if crawling with insects;
My skin crawled--I was terrified
Creep
To slip, or to become slightly displaced; as, the collodion on a negative, or a coat of varnish, may creep in drying; the quicksilver on a mirror may creep.
Crawl
Be crawling with;
The old cheese was crawling with maggots
Creep
To move or behave with servility or exaggerated humility; to fawn; as, a creeping sycophant.
To come as humbly as they used to creep.
Crawl
Show submission or fear
Creep
To grow, as a vine, clinging to the ground or to some other support by means of roots or rootlets, or by tendrils, along its length.
Crawl
Swim by doing the crawl;
European children learn the breast stroke; they often don't know how to crawl
Creep
To drag in deep water with creepers, as for recovering a submarine cable.
Creep
The act or process of creeping.
Creep
A distressing sensation, or sound, like that occasioned by the creeping of insects.
A creep of undefinable horror.
Out of the stillness, with gathering creep,Like rising wind in leaves.
Creep
A slow rising of the floor of a gallery, occasioned by the pressure of incumbent strata upon the pillars or sides; a gradual movement of mining ground.
Creep
Someone unpleasantly strange or eccentric
Creep
A slow longitudinal movement or deformation
Creep
A pen that is fenced so that young animals can enter but adults cannot
Creep
A slow creeping mode of locomotion (on hands and knees or dragging the body);
A crawl was all that the injured man could manage
The traffic moved at a creep
Creep
Move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground;
The crocodile was crawling along the riverbed
Creep
To go stealthily or furtively;
..stead of sneaking around spying on the neighbor's house
Creep
Grow in such a way as to cover (a building, for example);
Ivy grew over the walls of the university buildings
Creep
Show submission or fear
Creep
Slow, almost imperceptible movement.
With time, the hands of the clock seem to creep.
Common Curiosities
Can "Crawl" refer to web browsers?
Yes, search engines "crawl" the web to index sites.
Is "Crawl" specific to babies?
No, but it's commonly used in that context.
Are "Crawl" and "Creep" synonyms?
They're related in slow movement, but have different contexts and nuances.
Can plants "Creep"?
Yes, some plants creep or spread slowly over an area.
Can I say a movie "Creeps" along?
It's unconventional but understandable, meaning it progresses slowly.
Can a website "Creep"?
Not typically. Websites are usually said to "crawl."
Can "Creep" refer to material deformation?
Yes, in engineering, "creep" refers to material change under stress.
Does "Creep" always mean something unsettling?
No, but it can have eerie connotations in some contexts.
Is "Crawling" a method of exercise?
Yes, some fitness routines include crawling exercises.
Can one "Crawl" in bed?
Yes, it can mean moving slowly and lazily into bed.
Is front crawl a swimming term?
Yes, it's a specific swimming stroke.
Is "Creep" always negative?
Not always, but it can have negative connotations in certain contexts.
Can a story "Creep" into one's mind?
Yes, it means the story slowly and persistently occupies one's thoughts.
Can "Creep" refer to someone's behavior?
Yes, if someone is acting strangely or stalker-like, they might be called a "creep."
Can insects "Crawl"?
Yes, many insects, like ants, are often said to "crawl."
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
