Crawl Meaning
Crawl Definition & Usage
To move on hands and knees or by dragging the body close to the ground, typically with the stomach down.
Examples
- "The baby started to crawl towards her toy."
- "After the fall, he had to crawl to the door to call for help."
- "The soldiers crawled through the mud to avoid being seen by the enemy."
- "She crawled through the tunnel, hoping to reach the other side safely."
- "The cat crawled into the small space behind the couch to rest."
To move very slowly or with great difficulty.
Examples
- "The car crawled through the traffic during rush hour."
- "As the clock ticked, the minutes seemed to crawl by."
- "The hikers crawled up the steep hill, exhausted from the climb."
- "The computer was so slow that the cursor seemed to crawl across the screen."
- "With the heavy rain, the procession crawled along the road."
To move quietly or secretly, often in a way that is hidden or unnoticed.
Examples
- "He crawled past the guards to avoid detection."
- "The spy crawled into the room, trying to remain unnoticed."
- "The thief crawled through the window to steal the jewels."
- "She crawled into the closet to hide from the loud noise outside."
- "The sound of the burglar’s footsteps seemed to crawl through the empty house."
To move or progress slowly toward a goal or position, often used in a figurative sense.
Examples
- "The company is slowly crawling towards profitability after the crisis."
- "His career was crawling forward, but he had little success for years."
- "The project is crawling along at a frustrating pace."
- "The election results are crawling in, with the final count expected later tonight."
- "After months of delays, the construction of the new bridge is crawling ahead."
Cultural Context
Crawling, as a movement, is culturally associated with infancy, animals, and stealthy movements in various forms of media. It can symbolize helplessness, stealth, or the first stages of development. The term is widely used metaphorically in business, politics, and other areas to describe slow or difficult progress.
The Midnight Escape
Story
The Midnight Escape
It was the dead of night when Emily heard the faint noise from the basement. Her heart raced as she crawled from under the bed, knowing she had to move quickly but quietly. She wasn't sure how long she'd been hiding, but the sound of footsteps growing nearer made her pulse quicken. Emily crawled through the dark hallway, inching along the floor with each careful movement. Every creak of the old wooden planks seemed to echo like thunder in the stillness of the house, but she pressed on, her breath shallow. When she reached the basement door, she paused. She had to move fast, but not too fast; her only chance was to escape without being noticed. She crawled into the darkness, hoping the heavy footsteps would soon pass. Time seemed to crawl as she waited, but when she finally heard the door close above, she knew it was her chance. The basement window was small, but she could squeeze through. Slowly, she crawled towards it, praying no one would hear her. The cold night air greeted her as she crawled through the narrow opening, and she knew the worst was behind her. Her escape was slow, but it was the only way to survive. Once outside, she dared not look back.
Related Words
