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
Network prime is also a favorite landing spot, as the median age of the nighttime broadcast audience is now creeping up on 65 years.
—
Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 28 Feb. 2025
Bookmark this page and come back to it as draft day creeps up on you.
—Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic, 20 Feb. 2025
Opposing quarterbacks do not want to see the Chiefs linebackers creeping up on a big down.
—Neil Nakahodo, Kansas City Star, 30 Jan. 2025
Presidents’ Day is creeping up on us and our current commander-in-chief continues to cement his legacy during the early weeks of his nascent second administration.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 12 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for creep up on
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Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 28 Feb. 2025
Bookmark this page and come back to it as draft day creeps up on you.
—Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic, 20 Feb. 2025
Opposing quarterbacks do not want to see the Chiefs linebackers creeping up on a big down.
—Neil Nakahodo, Kansas City Star, 30 Jan. 2025
Presidents’ Day is creeping up on us and our current commander-in-chief continues to cement his legacy during the early weeks of his nascent second administration.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 12 Feb. 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 14 Apr. 2025.
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