creep up on
verb
crept up on; creeping up on; creeps up on
informal
: to slowly and quietly move closer to (someone) without being noticed
—often used figuratively
We tried to creep up on them but they heard our footsteps.
Old age creeps up on us.
The deadline had crept up on them.
Cite this Entry
“Creep up on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/dictionary/creep%20up%20on. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
