leak

verb

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\ ˈlēk

leaked; leaking; leaks

Definition of leak

(Entry 1 of 2)

intransitive verb

1a : 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.

2a : 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

leak

noun

Definition of leak (Entry 2 of 2)

1a : 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

Other Words from leak More Example Sentences Phrases Containing leak Learn More About leak

Other Words from leak

Verb

leaker \ ˈlē-kər

\ noun

Noun

leakproof \ ˈlēk-ˌprüf

\ 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. See More

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb In late February, a group calling itself Free Civilian began to leak personal information that supposedly belonged to millions of Ukrainian civilians. — New York Times, 22 Apr. 2022 The contents of the NCAA’s Notice of Allegations began to leak out Saturday. — Creg Stephenson | Cstephenson@al.com, al, 12 Mar. 2022 All through the country, civilians took up arms, and stories of incalculable courage and self-sacrifice began to leak out of remote villages and towns. — Ben Taub, The New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2022 It’s a cat-and-mouse game that exceeds the inside information that can leak out about injuries that affect NFL scores, a trade or free agent signing that will alter a team’s future book odds. — Lance Pugmire, USA TODAY, 25 Apr. 2022 The Dolphins enter Sunday’s game allowing 136.8 rushing yards per game and 4.3 yards per carry, but have argued that it’s the one or two big runs per game that leak out that’s making Miami’s run defense seem suspect. — Omar Kelly, sun-sentinel.com, 7 Oct. 2021 Titane is a triumphant scream of a movie, a balls-to-the-wall, darkly funny body-horror extravaganza about aching loneliness, found families, and breasts that leak motor oil. — Rachel Handler, Vulture, 16 July 2021 And like most other systems, today's brake systems are well sealed and almost never leak. — Gary Witzenburg, Car and Driver, 13 Apr. 2022 Experts estimate that a trillion dollars in upgrades will be needed to meet oncoming demand, and that aging pipes, some a century old, leak upward of six billion gallons of water a day. — Robin Kaiser-schatzlein, The New Republic, 1 Apr. 2022 Recent Examples on the Web: 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 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'leak.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.