English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
Login Flashcards
noun B2 Upper-Intermediate Common

creek

KREEK
Quiz me More like this

Creek (noun) means a small stream, narrower than a river. Example: “Frogs croaked in the reeds beside the shallow creek at dusk.”

noun
1
A small stream, narrower than a river.
"Frogs croaked in the reeds beside the shallow creek at dusk."
"The kids spent the afternoon wading in the creek."
"A dry creek bed ran along the edge of the property."
2
A narrow inlet of water, often connecting to the sea.
"The small boat slipped quietly up the creek as the tide came in."
"At low tide the muddy creek was empty, and the boats sat on the sand."
"Fishing boats were moored along the tidal creek."

How to use creek

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA small watercourse — either a stream inland or a narrow coastal inlet, depending on the country.

UK vs US

In British English "creek" usually means a coastal inlet; in American and Australian English it commonly means any small stream or river.

Easily confused with
creak → stream →
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like creek.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice

Word forms

Plural
creeks
Test yourself on “creek” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Frogs croaked in the reeds beside the shallow _____ at dusk.

Etymology

From Middle English crike, likely from Old Norse kriki — originally meaning a coastal inlet, the sense later broadened (especially in American and Australian English) to cover any small inland stream.

Origin: Middle English

Synonyms

View more →
rivulet streamlet rill watercourse inlet tributary beck brook burn stream branch bayou

Related words

support fire department stand river division arm bear

Rhymes for creek

eek week seek meek leek geek peek reek Zeek Greek cheek sleek
See all rhymes for creek →

Frequently asked questions

What does “creek” mean?
The word “creek” means a small stream, narrower than a river. In plain terms, a small watercourse — either a stream inland or a narrow coastal inlet, depending on the country.
How do you pronounce “creek”?
“Creek” is pronounced KREEK (/ˈkɹiːk/ in IPA).
How do you use “creek” in a sentence?
Here is “creek” used in a sentence: “The kids spent the afternoon wading in the creek.”
What is another word for “creek”?
Words with a similar meaning to “creek” include beck, brook, burn, stream, branch and bayou.
What part of speech is “creek”?
“Creek” is a noun.
Where does the word “creek” come from?
The word “creek” comes from Middle English. From Middle English crike, likely from Old Norse kriki — originally meaning a coastal inlet, the sense later broadened (especially in American and Australian English) to cover any small inland stream.
Is “creek” a common word?
“Creek” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “creek” have?
“Creek” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small stream, narrower than a river.
What is the difference between a creek and a stream?
In American, Australian, and New Zealand English, a creek is a small stream, so the two words largely overlap, with creek suggesting something on the smaller side. In British English, creek more often means a narrow inlet of water connecting to the sea rather than a freshwater stream.
What is the difference between a creek and a river?
Size is the main difference: a creek is a small watercourse, narrower than a river. Rivers are larger natural waterways, and creeks and streams often feed into them.
Is it crick or creek?
The standard spelling and pronunciation is creek. Crick reflects a regional American pronunciation of the same word; it appears in dialect speech and informal writing but is not the standard form.

Featured in

Vocabulary lists that include creek:

Words that end with K

People also searched

support fire department stand river division arm bear