creak

1 of 2

verb

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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
That has effectively stripped other ministries of the resources to pay for healthcare, education, garbage collection, and even repairing the country’s creaking electrical grid. Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2025 And Starmer, who oversees a creaking military that has reduced in size since wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, would need buy-in from Europe, too. Rob Picheta, CNN, 20 Feb. 2025
Noun
The set is a ship’s deck that tilts and creaks ominously while a screen plays eerily textured footage of a roiling ocean. Houman Barekat, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2025 The boat moves and creaks, the sails flutter in the wind, and the crew gives a lusty hurrah as the course is set for Singapore. John Bleasdale, Variety, 21 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for creak

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English creken to croak, of imitative origin

First Known Use

Verb

1583, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1604, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of creak was in 1583

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Creak.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/creak. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on creak

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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