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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 F07jz8RYhYqAORCKRV0pbQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000895419-08-000064.txt : 20080904
<SEC-HEADER>0000895419-08-000064.hdr.sgml : 20080904
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080904170840
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000895419-08-000064
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080902
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080904
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080904

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CREE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000895419
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SEMICONDUCTORS & RELATED DEVICES [3674]
		IRS NUMBER:				561572719
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NC
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0628

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4600 SILICON DR
		CITY:			DURHAM
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27703
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9193135300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4600 SILICON DR
		CITY:			DURHAM
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27703-8475

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CREE RESEARCH INC /NC/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19940224

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			VON ARX DOLPH W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001018926

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-21154
		FILM NUMBER:		081056961

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2396497095

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3663 RUM ROW
		STREET 2:		3663 RUM ROW
		CITY:			NAPLES
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			34102
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-09-02</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000895419</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CREE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CREE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001018926</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>VON ARX DOLPH W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3663 RUM ROW</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NAPLES</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>34102</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-09-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>656206</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION (RIGHT TO BUY)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>22.90</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-09-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2008-12-31</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-09-02</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares of restricted stock awarded under the Cree, Inc. 2004 Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan, as amended (the &quot;Plan&quot;).  Shares awarded will vest on September 2, 2009 provided the recipient continues service until that date as a member of the Board of Directors of Cree, Inc. or as an employee of Cree, Inc. or a related &quot;Employer&quot; as defined in the Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Of the 656,206 shares reported, (1) 68,500 shares are held directly; (2) 503,380 shares are held indirectly in a revocable living trust for the benefit of Mr. von Arx; (3) 15,000 shares are held indirectly in a revocable living trust for the benefit of Mr. von Arx's spouse; and (4) 69,326 shares are held indirectly in a family trust.  Mr. von Arx disclaims beneficial ownership of the 69,326 shares held by the family trust.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The option vests and becomes exercisable as to one-fourth of the shares on each of December 31, 2008, March 31, 2009, June 30, 2009 and September 30, 2009 or, if earlier, upon the election of directors at the 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, provided the recipient continues service until such dates as a member of the Board of Directors of Cree, Inc. or as an employee of Cree, Inc. or a related &quot;Employer&quot; as defined in the Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Dolph W. von Arx</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-09-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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