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 of seep

Verb

• drip
• flow
• percolate
• ooze
• exude
• bleed
• 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

That’s because a huge oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has spread more than 370 miles across the water and seeped into seven nature reserves. —Félix Márquez, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2026

Cave water and minerals seep into the bones, which absorb new material over time, making traditional dating less reliable. —Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Mar. 2026

Noun

Lying on the ground, blood rushing down his back onto his pants, Davis felt liquid seep into his lungs. —Emiliano Tahui Gómez, Austin American Statesman, 8 Mar. 2026

The presence of a large methane-leaking cold seep raises its own set of questions for those tracking the intersection of ocean ecosystems and climate. —Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 13 Feb. 2026

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