leaked; leaking; leaks
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
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
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
Synonyms
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.
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Recent Examples on the Web
Matt Burgess, WIRED, 16 Nov. 2023
The scan at 20 weeks confirmed the fetus's spinal cord hadn't closed so spinal fluid was leaking.
—Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 15 Nov. 2023
Georgia election interference case: Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’ office is seeking an emergency protective order after portions of confidential videos from key witnesses in the case were leaked to two news outlets.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 15 Nov. 2023
The Burn Book got leaked Perhaps the most notable altercation on Tuesday took place between McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) and Tennessee Rep. Tim Burchett, one of the eight GOP rebels who, with Democratic help, removed the Californian from the speaker’s chair last month.
—Erin B. Logan, Los Angeles Times, 15 Nov. 2023
Clarke’s sadness, and his concern for his wife, all leaked into the record.
—Rob Tannenbaum, New York Times, 14 Nov. 2023
Simply knowing that a secret was leaked or that a third party has access to your business’s systems or data is not helpful to remediate and respond.
—Alon Jackson, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023
Federal jury convicts veteran DEA supervisors of leaking confidential information
In:
New York
Aliza Chasan
Aliza Chasan is a digital producer at 60 Minutes and CBS News.
—Aliza Chasan, CBS News, 8 Nov. 2023
Dir Iram Parveen Bilal Pakistan, USA A Pakistani widow becomes an overnight sensation when her unvarnished opinions leak on to social media.
—Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Nov. 2023
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
Verb
Some of the data leaked appears to be test information, as well as data that is incomplete or incorrect.
—Matt Burgess, WIRED, 16 Nov. 2023
The scan at 20 weeks confirmed the fetus's spinal cord hadn't closed so spinal fluid was leaking.
—Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 15 Nov. 2023
Georgia election interference case: Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’ office is seeking an emergency protective order after portions of confidential videos from key witnesses in the case were leaked to two news outlets.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 15 Nov. 2023
The Burn Book got leaked Perhaps the most notable altercation on Tuesday took place between McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) and Tennessee Rep. Tim Burchett, one of the eight GOP rebels who, with Democratic help, removed the Californian from the speaker’s chair last month.
—Erin B. Logan, Los Angeles Times, 15 Nov. 2023
Clarke’s sadness, and his concern for his wife, all leaked into the record.
—Rob Tannenbaum, New York Times, 14 Nov. 2023
Simply knowing that a secret was leaked or that a third party has access to your business’s systems or data is not helpful to remediate and respond.
—Alon Jackson, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023
Federal jury convicts veteran DEA supervisors of leaking confidential information
In:
New York
Aliza Chasan
Aliza Chasan is a digital producer at 60 Minutes and CBS News.
—Aliza Chasan, CBS News, 8 Nov. 2023
Dir Iram Parveen Bilal Pakistan, USA A Pakistani widow becomes an overnight sensation when her unvarnished opinions leak on to social media.
—Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Nov. 2023
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 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
Phrases Containing leak
Dictionary Entries Near leak
Cite this Entry
“Leak.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leak. Accessed 30 Nov. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
leak
1 of 2 verb1
: 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 noun1
: something and especially a crack or hole that lets something in or out usually accidentally
2
: leakage
More from Merriam-Webster on leak
Nglish: Translation of leak for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of leak for Arabic Speakers
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