leak
6 synonyms and 0 antonyms for leak, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A crack or hole that lets liquid or gas escape or get in when it shouldn't.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use leak
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Middle English leken, related to Old Norse leka ("to drip"), all going back to a Germanic root meaning "to leak or drain."
Full origin of leak →Frequently asked questions
What does “leak” mean?
The word “leak” means a crack or hole that lets liquid or gas escape or get in when it shouldn't. In plain terms, an unwanted escape — of liquid, gas, or, figuratively, of secret information.
How do you pronounce “leak”?
“Leak” is pronounced leek (/liːk/ in IPA).
How do you use “leak” in a sentence?
Here is “leak” used in a sentence: “There's a leak under the kitchen sink.”
What part of speech is “leak”?
Depending on how it is used, “leak” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “leak” come from?
The word “leak” comes from Middle English. From Middle English leken, related to Old Norse leka ("to drip"), all going back to a Germanic root meaning "to leak or drain.".
Is “leak” a common word?
“Leak” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “leak” have?
“Leak” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a crack or hole that lets liquid or gas escape or get in when it shouldn't.
What is the difference between leak and leakage?
A leak is the crack or hole itself, or a single instance of liquid, gas, or information escaping; leakage is the process or the total amount that escapes, often over time. An engineer might fix a leak but measure leakage. In everyday speech, leak is by far the more common word.
What is the difference between a leak and a spill?
A leak happens when liquid or gas escapes through a crack or hole, usually gradually and often unnoticed at first. A spill is a one-off accident in which liquid escapes its container, typically by being knocked over or overflowing. A pipe leaks; a glass of wine spills.
Is it 'sprang a leak' or 'sprung a leak'?
The verb phrase is 'to spring a leak', meaning to develop a leak suddenly. The traditional past tense is sprang — 'the boat sprang a leak' — with sprung as the past participle: 'it has sprung a leak'. American English also accepts sprung as a simple past.