Dictionary

creeping in en · NOUN

Meanings

1. An instance of something creeping in.
   • Many a tear does he shed, because the creepings in of animal nature prevent his preparation for the Sabbath, and make him wrestle against the world with a puny arm. His disorders throw a sombre veil over his spirit, like the drapery of death. 1833 November, “The Life of a Faithful Minister”, in B[ela] B[ates] Edwards, editor, The American Quarterly Register, volume VI, number 2, Boston, Mass.: Perkins, Marvin, & Co., […], published 1834, →OCLC, page 90:
   • The conscious efforts to develop cultural ties with other peoples are not so successful, perhaps, as more quiet creepings in of foreign influences. For the former must be confined to a group of those most interested. Thus the English Speaking Union, the Sulgrave Foundation, the Society of Pilgrims are interested in the ties between Britain and the United States of America. 1929, John Merriman Gaus, “Some Direct and Indirect Expressions of Civic Attitudes”, in Great Britain: A Study of Civic Loyalty (Studies in the Making of Citizens), Chicago, Ill.: University of Chicago Press, →OCLC, page 294:
   • I am a senior teacher responsible for the pastoral care of girls . . . fully aware of the ease with which pornography is accessed by pupils with smartphones. My colleagues and I have noticed the creeping in of a “porn culture” in the way girls in particular are behaving. 2013 March 15, Bel Mooney, quoting a reader, “I'm furious at my boyfriend for having his ex to stay in his flat”, in Daily Mail, London: DMG Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 17 Mar 2013:
   • He wanted players to care about winning and not accept what he thought was a creeping in of the alternative. 2022 March 16, Andy Bitter, “Virginia Tech pre-spring takeaways: Can Hokies change culture? Plus Devon Hunter’s status, Connor Blumrick’s role, more”, in The Athletic, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 28 Sep 2025:
   • So I didn't like the creeping in of a calendar date. I think we've had a lot of trouble with our calendar dates for forward guidance in the past. 2013 June 21, Cardiff Garcia, “State-contingent policy works best when you know the states on which policy is contingent”, in Financial Times, London: The Financial Times Ltd., →ISSN, →OCLC:
   • For the habit or practice of doing kind and merciful Acts is a thing so real, and so apparently a part of ourselves, that we are thrown off our guard, and disposed to be less careful about our motives in doing them; and even to fancy that the influence of a good example may well make amends for any little creepings in of ostentatious motives. 1846, Thomas Worsley, “The Way of Alms”, in The Province of the Intellect in Religion Deduced from Our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount, […], book II (Examination of the Sermon on the Mount, […]), London: John W. Parker, […], →OCLC, page 371:

Forms

Relateds

creeping-in

creeping in en · VERB

Meanings

1. (form-of, gerund, participle, present) present participle and gerund of creep in
   form of creep in