seep

1 of 2

verb

ˈsēp 

seeped; seeping; seeps

intransitive verb

1

: to flow or pass slowly through fine pores or small openings : ooze

water seeped in through a crack

2

a

: to enter or penetrate slowly

fear of nuclear war had seeped into the national consciousness

—Tip O'Neill

b

: to become diffused or spread

a sadness seeped through his being

—Agnes S. Turnbull

seep

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: a spot where a fluid (such as water, oil, or gas) contained in the ground oozes slowly to the surface and often forms a pool

b

: a small spring

2

: seepage

seepy

ˈsē-pē 

adjective

Synonyms

Verb

• bleed
• exude
• ooze
• percolate
• strain
• sweat
• transude
• weep

Examples of seep in a Sentence

Verb

Blood was seeping through the bandage.

The chemicals seeped into the ground.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Desperate good Samaritans tried their best to staunch the blood seeping out of the bullet wounds to the man’s chest following the confrontation on Marcy Ave. near Park Ave. —Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 20 June 2025

Drops in water pressure can sometimes allow pollutants to seep into the water supply. —Stephanie Lam, Mercury News, 13 June 2025

Noun

Take a look Researchers exploring a cold seep in the South China Sea discovered a new species of crinoid named Endoxocrinus kexuei. —Miami Herald, 20 June 2025

Already, in the ocean, explorers have seen hot hydrothermal vents, alkaline vents, and cold seeps. —Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 7 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

alteration of earlier sipe, from Middle English sipen, from Old English sipian; akin to Middle Low German sipen to seep

First Known Use

Verb

1790, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1824, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for seep

• beep
• cheap
• creep
• deep
• heap
• jeep
• keep
• leap
• peep
• reap
• sheep
• sleep

Kids Definition

seep

verb

ˈsēp

: to flow or pass slowly through small openings : ooze