leaking

Meanings

1. 1verbintransitive

   (of a container or pipe) letting liquid or gas escape through a hole or crack.

   Grammar: Used in progressive tenses; the thing that leaks is the subject, and no object follows: The pipe is leaking.

   Patterns

   • something is leaking
   • something was leaking
   • something has been leaking

   The kitchen pipe is leaking again, so I put a bucket under it.

   Our old radiator was leaking all winter and ruined the floor.

   She noticed the gas tank was leaking and called a mechanic.

2. 2verbintransitive

   (of liquid or gas) escaping from a hole or crack.

   Grammar: The substance is the subject here, not the container: Water is leaking from the tank.

   Patterns

   • something is leaking from something
   • something is leaking out
   • something is leaking into something

   Water was leaking from a crack in the ceiling.

   Gas is leaking out of the old pipe, so stay away.

   Oil had been leaking onto the driveway for weeks.

3. 3verbintransitivefigurative

   (of secret information) becoming known to the public without official permission.

   Grammar: Often used with "to" before the person or group that receives the information: The report is leaking to the press.

   Patterns

   • something is leaking to someone
   • something is leaking out
   • something is leaking into something

   Details of the deal are leaking to reporters despite the ban.

   News of the plan was leaking out slowly over the weekend.

   Private data has been leaking into public forums.

4. 4adjectivebefore a noun

   letting liquid or gas pass through a hole or crack.

   Grammar: Comes before a noun to describe the thing that has the leak: a leaking pipe.

   Patterns

   • a leaking pipe
   • a leaking roof
   • a leaking container

   We called a plumber to fix the leaking faucet.

   A leaking roof can cause serious damage to the walls.

   The leaking tank had to be replaced immediately.

Common combinations

a leaking roof

A leaking roof let rain into the attic.

a leaking pipe

The plumber fixed the leaking pipe in an hour.

stop something from leaking

They used tape to stop the pipe from leaking.

start leaking

The old radiator started leaking after the cold snap.

leaking badly

The boat was leaking badly, so we turned back.

Synonyms and how they differ

dripping

Focuses on small drops falling slowly, while "leaking" can mean a steady or fast escape of liquid.

seeping

Suggests liquid passing slowly through a material, often without a clear hole; "leaking" usually implies a hole or crack.

escaping

Used for gas or liquid getting out, but it does not say whether there is a hole; "leaking" is more specific.

Opposites

Word family

leak noun

A hole or crack that lets liquid or gas escape, or the escape itself.

leaky adjective

Having a leak or letting liquid through.

leakage noun

The process or amount of liquid or gas that escapes.

Commonly confused: leaking or leaking? leaking or leeking?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “leaking”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words