leak

1 of 2

verb

ˈlēk 

leaked; leaking; leaks

intransitive verb

1

a

: to enter or escape through an opening usually by a fault or mistake

fumes leak in

b

: to let a substance or light in or out through an opening

The roof was leaking.

2

a

: to become known despite efforts at concealment

confidential information leaked out

b

: to be the source of an information leak

transitive verb

1

: to permit to enter or escape through or as if through a leak

The roof leaks water.

2

: to give out (information) surreptitiously

leaked the story to the press

leaker

ˈlē-kər 

noun

leak

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: a crack or hole that usually by mistake admits or lets escape

b

: something that permits the admission or escape of something else usually with prejudicial effect

2

: the act, process, or an instance of leaking

3

sometimes vulgar : an act of urinating

—used especially in the phrase take a leak

leakproof

ˈlēk-ˌprüf 

adjective

Synonyms

Verb

• break
• circulate
• come out
• get about
• get around
• get out
• get round
• out
• spread

Examples of leak in a Sentence

Verb

The boat was leaking water.

The cracked pipe leaked fumes into the room.

Fumes leaked through the crack in the pipe.

Air leaked out of the tire.

Water was leaking through a hole in the roof.

Someone leaked the story to the press.

Noun

The boat had developed a bad leak.

The landlord said he would fix the leak in the roof.

a slow leak of the chemical

When a reporter revealed classified information, the source of the leak was investigated.

Security is high because of a fear of leaks before negotiations have been finished.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Within a few months, the F.B.I. executive W. Mark Felt was leaking details about Watergate to the Washington Post, earning the nickname Deep Throat. —Beverly Gage, The New Yorker, 11 Dec. 2024

Plus, pus was now regularly leaking out of the bumps. —Julia Ries, SELF, 11 Dec. 2024

Noun

Two houses in Rancho Bernardo’s Westwood neighborhood were evacuated early Monday afternoon due to a natural gas leak at a nearby home under fumigation. —Elizabeth Marie Himchak, Rancho Bernardo, 17 July 2017

After checking ducts, evaluate all the windows and doors for leaks and cracks, and add new weather stripping if necessary. —Cincinnati.com, 30 June 2017

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English leken, liken, from or akin to Middle Dutch leken; akin to Old English hlec leaky, Old High German zelehhan, Old Norse leka to leak and probably to Old English leccan to moisten, Middle Irish legaid it melts

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing leak

• anti-leak
• have a leak
• slow leak
• spring a leak
• take a leak

Kids Definition

leak

1 of 2 verb

ˈlēk 

1

: to enter or escape or permit to enter or escape accidentally or by mistake

fumes leaked in

the secret leaked out

2

: to give out information secretly

leaked the story to the press

leak

2 of 2 noun

1

: something and especially a crack or hole that lets something in or out usually accidentally

2

: leakage