creep up on
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To sneakily arrive near someone in a position to startle them; to startle someone by creeping up behind them.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “creep up on” mean?
To sneakily arrive near someone in a position to startle them; to startle someone by creeping up behind them.
Is “creep up on” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.