creak

1 of 2

verb

ˈkrēk 

creaked; creaking; creaks

intransitive verb

: to make a prolonged grating or squeaking sound often as a result of being worn-out

also : to proceed slowly with or as if with creaking wheels

the story creaks along to a dull conclusion

creak

2 of 2

noun

: a rasping or grating noise

Synonyms of creak

Verb

• creep
• drag
• crawl
• shuffle
• limp

Noun

• scratch
• scrape
• rasp

Examples of creak in a Sentence

Verb

The old floorboards creaked under our feet.

The porch roof creaked with the heavy weight of the snow.

Noun

the creak of a floorboard

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Many people use it to mask noises that can often be intrusive, such as creaking doors or loud televisions. —Laura Kiniry, Popular Science, 25 Mar. 2026

Sometimes, images are blurred and overlaid as densely as the chaos of musical fragments and creaking sonic whatsits in Joseph Field Eccles and Nick Smyth’s own sound design. —Guy Lodge, Variety, 20 Mar. 2026

Noun

In the opening moments, Loznitsa, working with the Romanian cinematographer Oleg Mutu, plants the camera before the prison gates, which open with a loud creak, allowing a fresh batch of emaciated arrivals to shuffle into a work yard. —Justin Chang, New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2026

The Freight House building creaks and moans underfoot, and passing trains produce little more than a subtle hum. —Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English creken to croak, of imitative origin

First Known Use

Verb

1582, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1606, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for creak

• beak
• beek
• bleak
• cheek
• chic
• clique
• creek
• eke
• freak
• geek
• greek
• leak

Kids Definition

creak

verb

ˈkrēk

: to make a long scraping or squeaking sound

also : to go slowly with or as if with creaking wheels

creak noun