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

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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 Descriptions of the methods began leaking out more than a decade ago, occasionally in wrenching detail but sometimes with little more than stick-figure depictions of what prisoners went through. — Carol Rosenberg, New York Times, "What the C.I.A.’s Torture Program Looked Like to the Tortured," 4 Dec. 2019 After engaging defensive tackle Brandon Williams and leaking outside, Brunskill ended up not needing to block anyone in the open field; Ferguson was that far out of position. — Jonas Shaffer, baltimoresun.com, "Ravens film study: Jaylon Ferguson struggled vs. 49ers, but rookie is learning on job," 4 Dec. 2019 These seals will not fail catastrophically but leak more and more over time. — Bob Weber, chicagotribune.com, "Make sure your tires are properly inflated in the winter," 3 Dec. 2019 The Star Wars actor whose top-secret script for The Rise of Skywalker got leaked to eBay has confessed. — James Hibberd, EW.com, "Star Wars actor confesses to accidentally leaking Rise of Skywalker script," 27 Nov. 2019 Mold, lead dust exposure, leaking pipes, flooding basements, the complaints mount in tenants' homes. — Tim Evans, Indianapolis Star, "Former Fox & Friends host Clayton Morris' ex-business partner indicted for fraud," 22 Nov. 2019 Prices will start just under $44,000, according to information Ford inadvertently leaked the day of my first ride. — Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, "Mustang Mach-E: Fast, nimble, smooth. Is this the electric vehicle America’s waited for?," 18 Nov. 2019 The retailer has already leaked some of its Black Friday deals and the prices are tantalizing: The third generation Echo will sell for $60, the tenth generation Kindle Paperwhite for $85, the Fire HD 8 for $50. — Elissa Sanci, Woman's Day, "The Best (and Worst) Things to Buy on Black Friday," 18 Nov. 2019 After analyzing high-speed video and data from scores of sensors, engineers concluded a small amount of propellant leaked into a helium pressurization line during pre-test processing. — William Harwood, CBS News, "In major milestone, SpaceX test fires Crew Dragon abort engines," 13 Nov. 2019 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, "Homes evacuated in Rancho Bernardo due to gas leak," 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, "Column: Summer weatherization to keep you cool," 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, "TSA Finds 20-Pound Lobster in Checked Bag," 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, "Bel Air's Moore's Mill Road reopens after gas leak detected Friday afternoon," 2 June 2017 Truth is being mean leaves more leaks in your camp than the titanic and I .. — Christopher Rosen, EW.com, "Ruby Rose says 'being mean doesn't suit me' after Katy Perry tweets," 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, "Hidden Invaders," 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, "Trump chooses McMaster as national security adviser," 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, "11 Phone Numbers Every Woman Should Have On Speed Dial," 15 Feb. 2017

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.