crawl towards

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "crawl towards" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a slow, deliberate movement in the direction of something, often implying effort or struggle. Example: "The baby began to crawl towards her mother, reaching out for her comforting embrace."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

42 human-written examples

A new dam and hydroelectric power station crawl towards completion.

The Economist

Some see it as a turning-point, the start of Mexico's slow crawl towards true democracy.

The Economist

As he tries to crawl towards his house, a car pulls up.

The Guardian - Opinion

As we crawl towards Brexit, it is inevitable that our attention will turn towards our institutions of national self-government.

The Guardian - Opinion

You may call the Tories' glacial crawl towards respecting human life a political and personal train crash.

The Guardian - Opinion

"It's not a group that thinks women should just crawl towards economic equality in the way we have been engaged in since the 60s," Hegarty says.

The Guardian - Music

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

18 human-written examples

It is crawling towards us, boggle-eyed, mouth hugely agape.

Independent

Meaux then scrambled between the seats and crawled towards the exit.

The Washington Post

Mahmuda crawls towards the light, finds herself only a few metres from the ground and clambers down.

The Guardian

I heard someone whispering for water and saw a man crawling towards me from the basketball court," she says.

The Guardian - Arts

Mitt Romney is crawling towards the nomination, and there seems to be little his opponents can do to stop him.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "crawl towards" when you want to emphasize slow, labored movement, often implying difficulty or vulnerability. For example, "After the accident, he could only crawl towards the phone."

Common error

While you can use "crawl towards" metaphorically (e.g., "The project is crawling towards completion"), ensure it doesn't sound awkward or forced. Opt for more appropriate alternatives like "progressing slowly" or "gradually advancing" if the context doesn't truly convey a sense of difficulty or labored effort.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "crawl towards" functions as a verb phrase, where "crawl" acts as the main verb indicating the action of moving on hands and knees, and "towards" is a preposition indicating the direction of movement. As Ludwig AI explains, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely applicable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Wiki

14%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "crawl towards" is a grammatically sound and frequently used verb phrase that describes slow, often labored movement in a specific direction. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely applicable across various contexts, with a neutral register suitable for both formal and informal writing. While alternative phrases like "creep towards" or "move towards" offer subtle differences in meaning, "crawl towards" effectively conveys effort and deliberate movement. It's important to avoid overusing the phrase metaphorically and to choose more appropriate alternatives when the context doesn't truly imply difficulty. High-quality examples from sources like The Guardian and BBC demonstrate its broad applicability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

creep towards

Emphasizes a slow, stealthy, or subtle movement, adding a sense of caution or secrecy not necessarily present in "crawl towards".

inch towards

Highlights extremely slow and incremental progress, emphasizing the smallness of each movement more than "crawl towards".

move towards

A more general term indicating movement in a direction, lacking the implication of slow or labored progress inherent in "crawl towards".

drag oneself towards

Emphasizes the exhaustion or debility of the one moving, suggesting a greater degree of effort and weakness than "crawl towards".

struggle towards

Focuses on the difficulty and effort involved in moving towards a destination, adding an element of hardship that may not be present in "crawl towards".

advance towards

Suggests a more formal or deliberate movement, often in a strategic or planned manner, unlike the potentially involuntary nature of "crawl towards".

make one's way towards

Implies navigating obstacles or overcoming challenges while moving towards a destination, unlike the simpler directional movement of "crawl towards".

edge towards

Implies a gradual or hesitant shift in position or condition, rather than a literal physical movement as in "crawl towards".

work one's way towards

Highlights the effort and process involved in achieving a goal or position, using movement as a metaphor, while "crawl towards" often refers to literal movement.

reach for

Focuses on the act of extending a hand or limb to grasp something, while "crawl towards" involves whole-body movement.

FAQs

How can I use "crawl towards" in a sentence?

Use "crawl towards" to describe a slow, often difficult movement in a specific direction. For example, "The injured soldier had to crawl towards safety." or "The project is crawling towards completion, but there's still a lot to do."

What's the difference between "crawl towards" and "creep towards"?

"Crawl towards" generally suggests a slow, labored movement. "Creep towards" implies a slow, cautious, or stealthy movement. The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize difficulty or stealth.

What are some alternatives to "crawl towards"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "move towards", "inch towards", "struggle towards", or "advance towards".

Is it correct to use "crawl towards" in a metaphorical sense?

Yes, "crawl towards" can be used metaphorically to describe slow progress. For example, "The negotiations are crawling towards a resolution." However, ensure the metaphor is appropriate and doesn't sound forced. Consider if "progressing slowly" or "gradually advancing" might be better fits.