1 B1 idiomatic informal
To make someone feel unsettled, uneasy, or disturbed, often in an eerie or skin-crawling way.
"The way he stared at her from across the room really creeped her out."
separable
creep out
B1 informal separable transitive/intransitive
To make someone feel uncomfortable, uneasy, or disturbed in a skin-crawling way; or to leave quietly without being noticed.
In plain English
To give someone a weird, uncomfortable feeling, like someone is watching them — or to sneak out of somewhere quietly.
What does "creep out" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 neutral
To leave a place quietly and without drawing attention to oneself.
"He creped out of the meeting early without anyone noticing."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To creep means to move very slowly and quietly; 'out' suggests leaving — as if something is slowly crawling out from hiding to disturb you.
Actually means
To give someone a weird, uncomfortable feeling, like someone is watching them — or to sneak out of somewhere quietly.
Usage tip
Very widely used in informal American and British English, especially among young speakers. The 'make uneasy' sense is extremely common. The noun 'creep' (an unsettling person) is related. 'Creeped out' or 'crept out' is used as an adjective.
Words that pair with "creep out"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
me everyone horror films stranger smile house
How to conjugate "creep out"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
creep out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
creeps out
he/she/it
Past simple
creeped out
yesterday
Past participle
creeped out
have + pp
-ing form
creeping out
continuous
Hear "creep out" in the wild
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Other ways to say "creep out"
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