leak

1 of 2

verb

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 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 adjective

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
In Puerto Vallarta, a cartel stronghold and popular beach town, Mexican hotel workers are routinely pressured by the criminal group to leak guest information, according to James Barnacle, the F.B.I. deputy assistant director overseeing financial crimes. Maria Abi-Habib, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2024 De León, politically left for dead after his role in the racist conversation with other Latino politicos that was leaked in 2022, successfully campaigned for his electoral life. Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2024 Because of the position of the handles and the design of the spout, this cup may be more prone to leaking, so young toddlers could get a bit messy while using it. Lauren Wellbank, Parents, 20 Mar. 2024 And then to have to relive it like six months later again in front of everybody, it didn’t get leaked or anything. Hadley Meares, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Mar. 2024 Lemon’s unsigned contract with X was leaked to The New York Post, which alleges the former CNN anchor requested a $5 million advance on top of an $8 million salary, equity in X, and a Tesla Cybertruck. Maxwell Zeff / Gizmodo, Quartz, 19 Mar. 2024 In areas focused on producing oil, oftentimes the methane gas will leak out of the ground, Sherwin said. Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 19 Mar. 2024 The lawyers also accused prosecutors of leaking evidence to the public and incorrectly defining involuntary manslaughter during grand jury instructions. Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 15 Mar. 2024 If an Apple employee decides to go rogue, or Apple gets hacked and your files get leaked—and neither of those scenarios have happened, to our knowledge—ADP will ensure your data is still safe. David Nield, WIRED, 11 Mar. 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 If the container uses ice packs, it must be sealed and in a leak-proof container with the contents clearly marked. Cynthia Drescher, CNT, 27 June 2017 At 3:23 p.m., BGE had mitigated the leak, fire vehicles were leaving and the Sheriff's Office was preparing to reopen the road, Fire & EMS spokespersons Rich Gardiner and Jenn Chenworth reported on Facebook. Staff Report, The Aegis, 2 June 2017 Truth is being mean leaves more leaks in your camp than the titanic and I .. Christopher Rosen, EW.com, 21 May 2017 But strep also caused a leak in the BBB near the amygdala, the seat of fear and anxiety, and the lateral hypothalamus, where our sense of hunger begins. Pamela Weintraub, Discover Magazine, 29 Mar. 2017 For their part, Trump's aides look on many of those holdovers from the last administration with suspicion, blaming them for leaks. Tampa Bay Times, 20 Feb. 2017 Your Utility Company In the event of a power outage or suspected gas leak, your utility company is better equipped to handle the problem than emergency responders. Kelly O'Sullivan, Woman's Day, 15 Feb. 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'leak.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of leak was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near leak

Cite this Entry

“Leak.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leak. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

leak

1 of 2 verb
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

More from Merriam-Webster on leak

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