seep

verb

\ˈsēp

seeped; seeping; seeps

Definition of seep

(Entry 1 of 2)

intransitive verb

1 : to flow or pass slowly through fine pores or small openings : ooze water seeped in through a crack

2a : 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

noun

Definition of seep (Entry 2 of 2)

1a : 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

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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

The young man protests that is a statement of the obvious, but Roger insists that there is a precise moment in your life when this recognition of imminence seeps into your bones, and then cannot be shaken off ever again. — Chris Jones, chicagotribune.com, "Chicago-set 'Support Group for Men' a chance to laugh at our current #MeToo moment," 2 July 2018 Scientists say the methane can seep through cracks several feet away from the lava. — Fox News, "The Latest: Hawaii volcano produces blue flames from methane," 23 May 2018 Meanwhile, outrage seeps through the pores of talk-show hosts, and award-show emcees, and sketch shows, and stand-up comics, not to mention the most explicitly political performances on cable news. — Derek Thompson, The Atlantic, "Win a Game Show, Pay Off Your Student Debt," 12 July 2018 The adrenaline can seep into your bloodstream and cause your heart to speed up or even skip a few beats. — Ronald S. Litman, Philly.com, "Should I worry about my child being allergic to anesthesia?," 9 July 2018 However, drops of water held in position on the sponge will slowly seep into it. — Lee Hutchinson, Ars Technica, "The Internet-demanded, partially scientific testing of Ultra-Ever Dry (in HD!)," 4 July 2018 During the fracking process, harmful chemicals, like toxic methane, can seep out of the earth and into the surrounding land and water. — Megan Ditrolio, Marie Claire, "Fracking: The Environmental Crisis in Our Backyard," 13 June 2018 Water seeped out, eroding the materials around the pipe. — Devin Kelly, Anchorage Daily News, "Spenard sinkhole signals a looming crisis over Anchorage’s aging drainpipes," 7 June 2018 In recent years, the sargassum has had more than its fair share of nitrogen, thriving on the fertilizer, livestock manure, human waste and sewage that seeps into the Gulf from the Mississippi River. — Jacob Sweet, miamiherald, "Lots of sun, and brown slimy seaweed, in the forecast for South Florida beaches," 3 July 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The precious presence of water is a fickle one, requiring a micro-filtration device to eek out ounces rather than gallons from seeps and springs often frequented by wildlife. — Peter Reese, Popular Mechanics, "4 Reasons Why You Need To Hike the Sonoran Desert," 2 May 2018 Protections also were added for methane seeps, undersea areas where the gas leaking out of the ocean bottom helps sustain sea life. — Hal Bernton, The Seattle Times, "Conservationists, West Coast bottom fishermen embrace ‘grand bargain’," 16 Apr. 2018 Duke also agrees to pay an $84,000 fine for leaking polluted water from the ponds into the Catawba and Broad rivers. Draining the ponds is expected to eliminate or reduce those leaks, which are called seeps. — Bruce Henderson And Deon Roberts, charlotteobserver, "Want to help speed up coal ash cleanup near Charlotte? Here’s how.," 9 Jan. 2018 Okoronkwo let his frustration with football seep into his schoolwork. — Bruce Feldman, SI.com, "The Unlikely Rise of Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Oklahoma's Defensive MVP," 27 Dec. 2017 Detailing their results in the journal Environmental Health, researchers explain the chemical exposure came from the bitumen, which washes up to the Channel Islands from underwater seeps. — Brigit Katz, Smithsonian, "Drinking From Ancient Water Bottles Didn’t Hurt Indigenous People—Making Them Did," 29 June 2017 Detailing their results in the journal Environmental Health, researchers explain the chemical exposure came from the bitumen, which washes up to the Channel Islands from underwater seeps. — Brigit Katz, Smithsonian, "Drinking From Ancient Water Bottles Didn’t Hurt Indigenous People—Making Them Did," 29 June 2017 The Inupiat showed their visitors how wedges of tundra soaked with oil from seeps could be cut, hauled back to villages, and used as fuel. — Tim Bradner, Alaska Dispatch News, "There’s rich history in Native corporation’s bid to become an oil company," 12 July 2017 Detailing their results in the journal Environmental Health, researchers explain the chemical exposure came from the bitumen, which washes up to the Channel Islands from underwater seeps. — Brigit Katz, Smithsonian, "Drinking From Ancient Water Bottles Didn’t Hurt Indigenous People—Making Them Did," 29 June 2017

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