creaked; creaking; creaks
: 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
: a rasping or grating noise
Synonyms
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
Brad Plumer, New York Times, 13 May 2024
Years of budget cuts mean the NHS is creaking, and waiting times and survival rates for cancers across the board have slipped in comparison with other countries.
—Alexander Smith, NBC News, 26 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for creak 
Verb
The new rule by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which oversees interstate electricity transmission, is the most significant attempt in years to upgrade and expand the country’s creaking electricity network.
—Brad Plumer, New York Times, 13 May 2024
Years of budget cuts mean the NHS is creaking, and waiting times and survival rates for cancers across the board have slipped in comparison with other countries.
—Alexander Smith, NBC News, 26 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for creak
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'creak.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near creak
Cite this Entry
“Creak.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/creak. Accessed 29 May. 2024.
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