creep up on

Word Type: Phrasal Verb

Definition

to surprise someone and move closer to them without being seen or heard.

Example

  • “The noise from the approaching storm crept up on them as they sat in the garden.”
  • “The realization of how much work was left to do crept up on her in the last hour.”
  • “I didn’t hear him come in; he must have crept up behind me.”
  • “The feeling of anxiety began to creep up on him as the deadline approached.”
  • “The fog slowly crept up on the town, making it hard to see.”