Comprehensive Guide to Synonyms of “Leaking”: Definitions, Usage, and Examples

Are you looking to enrich your English vocabulary and communicate with greater precision? This comprehensive guide explores the many synonyms of “leaking”—words and expressions that convey the idea of something escaping, whether it’s water from a pipe or a secret from a conversation. Understanding and using precise synonyms not only enhances your writing and speaking but also helps you adapt to diverse contexts, from everyday conversations to technical fields like journalism and engineering.

This article is designed for students, language learners, teachers, writers, editors, and professionals who want to master the nuances of “leaking” and its alternatives. You’ll discover detailed definitions, grammatical forms, contextual usage, common pitfalls, and practical exercises to deepen your understanding. Whether you’re crafting a technical report, telling a story, or discussing information security, you’ll find the right words here.

We will cover definitions, types, usage rules, common mistakes, extensive examples, and practice exercises—ensuring you gain a thorough command of this essential vocabulary area.

3. Definition Section
4. Structural Breakdown
5. Types or Categories
6. Examples Section
7. Usage Rules
8. Common Mistakes
9. Practice Exercises
10. Advanced Topics
11. FAQ Section
12. Conclusion

3. Definition Section

3.1. What Does “Leaking” Mean?

Leaking can be understood literally and figuratively. Literally, it means the unwanted escape of liquid or gas through a hole or crack. For example: The roof is leaking during the storm.

Figuratively, “leaking” refers to the disclosure of confidential or sensitive information. For example: Someone is leaking company secrets to the press.

The word “leak” comes from Middle Dutch lecken, meaning “to drip” or “to let water in.” As a verb, it means “to allow (a substance) to escape.” As a noun, a “leak” is the hole or the act itself. As an adjective, “leaking” describes something that is allowing escape.

Leak vs. Leaking: “Leak” is the base verb (“Pipes leak”), the noun (“There’s a leak”), while “leaking” is the present participle/adjective (“The leaking pipe”).

3.2. What Is a Synonym?

A synonym is a word or phrase that means nearly the same as another word. In English grammar, synonyms help writers and speakers vary their language and convey nuances. For example, seep and drip are synonyms of leak but with different nuances.

Why do synonyms matter? They add precision, avoid repetition, and match the tone or register of your message. However, note that synonyms often differ in register (formality), nuance (subtle meaning), and connotation (emotional association).

3.3. The Concept of Synonyms for “Leaking”

A synonym for “leaking” is any word or phrase that can replace “leaking” in context, expressing the idea of something escaping or being disclosed. Some are direct synonyms (e.g., seeping for liquids), while others are near-synonyms (e.g., divulging for secrets).

Contexts:

Physical: Escape of liquids or gases (e.g., water, oil, air).
Informational: Disclosure of secrets, data, or news.
Specialized Fields: Technical jargon in plumbing, IT security, journalism.

3.4. Overview Table: Grammatical Forms

Base Word	Verb Form	Noun Form	Adjective Form	Typical Synonyms (by form)
leak	to leak, leaking, leaked	leak, leakage	leaking, leaky	Verb: seep, ooze, drip, escape, divulge, reveal Noun: leak, seepage, drip, escape, disclosure Adjective: leaking, leaky, porous, secretive

4. Structural Breakdown

4.1. Morphological Patterns

Verb Forms: Infinitive (to leak), present participle (leaking), past participle (leaked).

Noun Forms: Singular (leak), plural (leaks), countable (a leak), uncountable (leakage).

Adjective Forms: Present participle (leaking pipe), past participle (leaked document), compound adjectives (leak-proof, leak-prone).

Synonym	Verb	Noun	Adjective
seep	to seep, seeping, seeped	seepage	seeping
drip	to drip, dripping, dripped	drip, drippage	dripping
ooze	to ooze, oozing, oozed	ooze	oozing
divulge	to divulge, divulging, divulged	divulgence	divulged
disclose	to disclose, disclosing, disclosed	disclosure	disclosed

4.2. Sentence Structures

Subject: The pipe is leaking. / Water is seeping out.
Object: They fixed the leaking pipe. / He repaired the dripping faucet.
Predicate: The secret was divulged.

Literal: Oil is oozing from the engine.
Figurative: Details of the plan are leaking to the media.

4.3. Register and Formality

Some synonyms are more formal (e.g., divulge, disclose), while others are informal (e.g., spill, let out). Choosing the right register depends on your audience and context.

Synonym	Register	Example
divulge	Formal	He refused to divulge any details.
spill	Informal	Don’t spill the beans!
leak	Neutral	Information leaked to the public.
reveal	Neutral/Formal	The report revealed a security flaw.

4.4. Collocations

Certain words often appear with “leak” and its synonyms. These are called collocations.

Synonym	Common Collocations	Example Sentence
leak	water, oil, gas, information, details	There’s a gas leak in the kitchen.
seep	water, moisture, slowly, through cracks	Water seeped through the walls.
ooze	blood, pus, oil, slowly	Oil oozed from the engine.
divulge	secret, information, details	She divulged the secret to her friend.

5. Types or Categories

5.1. Literal Synonyms (Physical Leaking)

Seep: Water seeping through the ground.
Ooze: Oil oozing from a container.
Drip: Water dripping from a tap.
Trickle: A trickle of rainwater down the window.
Gush: Water gushing from a burst pipe.
Escape: Gas escaping from a cylinder.

Synonym	Typical Use	Example
seep	Liquids, slow	Water seeped through the foundation.
ooze	Thick liquids, slow	Mud oozed out of the crack.
drip	Small drops, regular	Rain dripped from the gutter.
trickle	Thin stream, slow	A trickle of water ran down the wall.
gush	Large amount, fast	Water gushed from the pipe.

5.2. Figurative Synonyms (Information/Secrets)

Divulge: To make something secret known.
Reveal: To make something known that was hidden.
Disclose: To officially reveal information.
Spill: Informal for revealing information (“spill the beans”).
Let slip: To reveal unintentionally.
Expose: To make public, often something wrong.

Synonym	Context	Example
divulge	Secrets, formal	He refused to divulge the source.
reveal	Information, neutral/formal	The report revealed new facts.
disclose	Official, legal	The company disclosed its earnings.
spill	Informal, secrets	Who spilled the beans?
let slip	Unintentional	She let slip the surprise party plans.

5.3. Technical/Field-Specific Synonyms

Plumbing: seep, weep, trickle
Journalism: leak, whistleblow, leak out
Information Security: breach, expose, leak

Field	Synonym	Example
Plumbing	weep	The pipe is weeping at the joint.
Journalism	leak out	News of the merger leaked out.
InfoSec	breach	A data breach exposed client information.

5.4. Intensity-Based Categories

Minor: seep, trickle, weep, ooze
Moderate: leak, drip, escape
Major: gush, pour, burst

Intensity	Synonyms	Example
Minor	seep, trickle	Water trickled from the crack.
Major	gush, pour	Oil gushed from the well.

5.5. Synonyms by Part of Speech

Part of Speech	Synonyms	Example
Verb	leak, seep, ooze, drip, pour, reveal, divulge	Data leaked online.
Noun	leak, seepage, ooze, drip, disclosure, breach	There was a leak in the roof.
Adjective	leaking, leaky, seeping, oozing, secretive	The leaking tap kept her awake.

6. Examples Section

6.1. Simple Examples by Synonym (Table 1)

Synonym	Example Sentence
leak	The pipe began to leak water onto the floor.
seep	Water seeped through the basement walls.
ooze	Blood oozed from the wound.
drip	Rain dripped from the ceiling.
trickle	A trickle of water ran down the sidewalk.
gush	Water gushed from the broken hydrant.
divulge	She refused to divulge the password.
reveal	The investigation revealed the cause of the leak.
disclose	The company disclosed the data breach.
spill	He spilled the secret to his friends.
let slip	She let slip the surprise party plans.
breach	The hackers breached the database.
escape	Gas escaped from the damaged cylinder.
weep	The pipe is weeping at the joint.
vent	Steam vented from the pressure cooker.

6.2. Examples by Grammatical Category

Verbs: “The faucet is dripping.” / “She divulged the information.”
Nouns: “There was a leak in the tank.” / “The disclosure shocked the board.”
Adjectives: “The leaking roof needs repair.” / “The disclosed files are sensitive.”

6.3. Literal vs. Figurative Examples (Table 2)

Synonym	Literal Example	Figurative Example
leak	Water is leaking from the pipe.	Someone leaked the test answers.
seep	Oil seeped into the ground.	Rumors began to seep into the community.
ooze	Mud oozed from the bank.	Anger oozed from his words.
drip	Water dripped from the ceiling.	Information dripped out over time.
spill	Milk spilled on the floor.	He spilled the secret at the party.

6.4. Register and Tone Examples (Table 3)

Register	Synonym/Expression	Example
Formal	disclose	The findings were disclosed in the report.
Neutral	leak	Data leaked online last week.
Informal	spill the beans	Who spilled the beans about our plan?
Technical	breach	The system suffered a security breach.

6.5. Field-Specific Usage (Table 4)

Field	Typical Synonym	Example
Plumbing	seep	Water seeped into the foundation.
Journalism	leak out	Details of the agreement leaked out.
Security	breach	A data breach exposed client information.
Medical	ooze	The wound began to ooze pus.

6.6. Collocation Examples (Table 5)

Synonym	Collocation	Example Sentence
ooze	oil is oozing	Oil is oozing from the gasket.
leak	information is leaking	Information is leaking from the committee.
drip	water is dripping	Water is dripping from the faucet.
divulge	divulge a secret	He refused to divulge the secret.
reveal	reveal the source	The journalist refused to reveal the source.

6.7. Comprehensive List: 40+ Example Sentences

The roof is leaking after the heavy rain. (literal, verb)
Gas is escaping from the broken pipe. (literal, verb)
Water seeped under the door during the flood. (literal, verb)
Milk dripped onto the floor from the fridge. (literal, verb)
Blood oozed from the wound slowly. (literal, verb)
A trickle of water ran down the window. (literal, noun)
Steam vented from the radiator. (literal, verb)
Oil is weeping from the engine gasket. (literal, verb, technical)
The data breach exposed thousands of records. (figurative, verb, technical)
The whistleblower leaked the report to the media. (figurative, verb, journalistic)
She divulged the details to her lawyer. (figurative, verb, formal)
He revealed the answer after much persuasion. (figurative, verb)
They disclosed the findings at a press conference. (figurative, verb, formal)
Who spilled the beans about the surprise? (figurative, informal)
She let slip the secret by accident. (figurative, informal)
The pipe has a small leak. (literal, noun)
There was significant leakage in the system. (literal, noun, technical)
The leaking faucet wastes water every day. (literal, adjective)
The disclosed document shocked investors. (figurative, adjective, formal)
The source of the leak remains unknown. (literal/figurative, noun)
Water trickled down the wall all night. (literal, verb)
Oil gushed from the ruptured pipeline. (literal, verb, high intensity)
Rumors began to seep through the office. (figurative, verb)
Her disappointment oozed from her expression. (figurative, verb)
The information leaked out quickly. (figurative, verb)
The leaking roof needs immediate repair. (literal, adjective)
He fixed the weeping pipe yesterday. (literal, adjective, technical)
The trickle of donations increased after publicity. (figurative, noun)
They refused to divulge the client list. (figurative, verb, formal)
The report was revealed just in time. (figurative, verb)
Steam vented from the pressure valve. (literal, verb)
The security breach was detected immediately. (figurative, noun, technical)
Confidential information was exposed online. (figurative, verb)
Milk dripped continuously from the carton. (literal, verb)
The news trickled out over several days. (figurative, verb)
Water seeped into the cracks of the wall. (literal, verb)
He accidentally let slip the date of the event. (figurative, informal)
The tap is leaky and needs to be replaced. (literal, adjective)
The manager disclosed the plans to the team. (figurative, verb, formal)
She spilled the secret during lunch. (figurative, informal)
The exposed pipe was quickly repaired. (literal, adjective)
The leaky container caused a mess. (literal, adjective)

Each sentence above demonstrates a different nuance, intensity, or context for a synonym of “leaking.”

7. Usage Rules

7.1. Choosing the Right Synonym

Consider context (literal or figurative), intensity (minor or major), and register (formal or informal). For physical leaks, use seep, ooze, drip. For secrets, use divulge, reveal, disclose.

7.2. Grammatical Agreement

Subject-verb agreement: “The pipes leak.” / “Water seeps.”
Noun-adjective agreement: “Leaking pipe,” “disclosed documents.”

7.3. Register and Audience

Use formal synonyms (disclose, divulge) in business or academic writing.
Use informal synonyms (spill, let out) in casual conversation.

7.4. Idiomatic Usage

Spill the beans – reveal a secret.
Let it slip – reveal something accidentally.
Blow the whistle – report wrongdoing.

7.5. Common Exceptions and Special Cases

Some synonyms are only used in certain contexts: divulge is not used for physical leaks.
Ambiguity can arise: “leak” can mean both physical and information leaks.

8. Common Mistakes

8.1. Confusing Literal and Figurative Synonyms

Incorrect: “The pipe is divulging water.”
Correct: “The pipe is leaking water.”

8.2. Misusing Register

Avoid using technical or formal terms in casual conversation unless appropriate.

Misused Synonym	Correction
“The faucet is divulging.”	“The faucet is leaking.”
“He breached the news.”	“He revealed the news.”

8.3. Incorrect Grammatical Forms

Incorrect: “The leak is oozing.”
Correct: “Oil is oozing from the leak.”

8.4. Mixing Up Intensity

Incorrect: “Water is gushing from the tiny crack.”
Correct: “Water is seeping/trickling from the tiny crack.”

8.5. Overusing a Single Synonym

Avoid repetition by varying your synonyms. For example, instead of using “leak” repeatedly, alternate with “seep,” “drip,” or “divulge” as context allows.

9. Practice Exercises

9.1. Fill-in-the-Blank (10-15 Sentences)

#	Sentence	Options	Answer	Explanation
1	Blood began to _______ from the wound.	ooze / divulge / breach	ooze	“Ooze” is for slow liquid leakage.
2	The news slowly _______ out over the week.	trickled / gushed / wept	trickled	“Trickled” describes slow, gradual release.
3	She refused to _______ the secret.	divulge / seep / leak	divulge	“Divulge” is for disclosing information.
4	Water is _______ from the broken pipe.	escaping / revealing / disclosing	escaping	“Escaping” is used for gases or liquids.
5	The document was _______ to the media.	leaked / oozed / trickled	leaked	“Leaked” fits information disclosure.
6	Oil _______ from the engine after the accident.	gushed / exposed / revealed	gushed	“Gushed” for a large, fast flow.
7	Who _______ the beans about the party?	spilled / dripped / seeped	spilled	“Spilled the beans” is an idiom for revealing a secret.
8	The wound started to _______ pus.	ooze / breach / divulge	ooze	“Ooze” describes slow, thick flow.
9	The company _______ its quarterly earnings.	disclosed / wept / trickled	disclosed	“Disclosed” is used for official information.
10	Details of the plan _______ out despite precautions.	leaked / oozed / gushed	leaked	“Leaked out” for information escape.

9.2. Error Correction (5-10 Sentences)

Incorrect Sentence	Correction	Explanation
The pipe is divulging water.	The pipe is leaking water.	“Divulging” is only for information.
The faucet is breaching.	The faucet is leaking.	“Breaching” is not used for faucets.
He oozed the secret to his friend.	He revealed/spilled the secret to his friend.	“Ooze” is for liquids, not information.
The wound is leaking pus quickly.	The wound is oozing pus quickly.	“Oozing” is specific for slow, thick flow from wounds.
She gushed the details to the press.	She revealed/disclosed the details to the press.	“Gushed” is not used for revealing information.

9.3. Identification Exercise

Rumors began to seep through the company. (seep, figurative)
Oil is oozing from the machinery. (ooze, literal)
He let slip the surprise. (let slip, figurative)
The pipe is weeping at the joint. (weep, technical literal)
The document was disclosed in the meeting. (disclose, formal figurative)

9.4. Sentence Construction

Prompt: Use each synonym in a literal and figurative sentence.

Seep (literal): Water seeped under the door.
(figurative): Doubts began to seep into her mind.
Drip (literal): The ceiling dripped water.
(figurative): News dripped out over several days.
Spill (literal): Juice spilled on the carpet.
(figurative): He spilled the beans about the plan.

9.5. Synonym Sorting Table

Synonym	Definition	Example Sentence
divulge	To make known (a secret)	He refused to divulge the information.
gush	To flow out in large quantities	Water gushed from the pipe.
trickle	To flow slowly in a thin stream	Rainwater trickled down the windowpane.
leak	To allow to escape	Data was leaked to the public.

10. Advanced Topics

10.1. Subtle Nuances and Connotations

Synonym	Nuance/Connotation
seep	Slow, almost invisible movement
ooze	Slow, thick, often unpleasant
gush	Sudden, forceful release
divulge	Formal, intentional disclosure of secrets
spill	Casual, sometimes careless revelation

10.2. Synonyms in Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

Spill the beans: To reveal a secret.
Let slip: To accidentally reveal.
Blow the whistle: To report wrongdoing.
Leak out: Information becoming public unofficially.

10.3. Regional and Dialectal Variations

British English: “leaky” is common for faulty objects.
American English: “drip” is often used for a leaky faucet.
Australian English: “weeping” is used in plumbing contexts.

10.4. Synonyms in Literature and Media

Writers often use synonyms to create imagery: “Tears oozed from his eyes.” Journalists use “leak” or “whistleblow” for information, e.g., “The Pentagon Papers were leaked to the press.”

10.5. Synonym Choice in Technical Writing

Technical writing demands precision: use seepage for water in engineering, breach for data loss, and leakage for electrical or chemical escape.

11. FAQ Section

What is the difference between “leaking,” “seeping,” and “oozing”?
“Leaking” is general for any escape; “seeping” means to leak slowly, often through small openings; “oozing” is slow and thick, often with a sticky or unpleasant quality.
Can “divulging” be used as a synonym for “leaking”?
Only for information, secrets, or data—not for physical substances like water or gas.
When should I use “gushing” instead of “dripping”?
Use “gushing” for a sudden, large, forceful flow; “dripping” is for slow, small drops.
Are there formal synonyms for “leaking” in business writing?
Yes, “disclose,” “divulge,” and “reveal” are more formal alternatives.
What are common idioms for “leaking information”?
“Spill the beans,” “let slip,” and “blow the whistle.”
What is the noun form of “leaking,” and what are its synonyms?
“Leak,” “leakage,” “seepage,” “drip,” “disclosure,” and “breach.”
How do I avoid overusing “leaking” in essays?
Vary your vocabulary by using synonyms that match the context and tone.
Are there technical terms for “leaking” in engineering?
Yes, “seepage,” “leakage,” “weep,” and “breach” are used in technical contexts.
Can “leaking” refer to non-physical things?
Absolutely. It often refers to the escape of information, secrets, or data.
How do register and tone affect synonym choice?
Use formal synonyms for professional writing; informal ones for casual speech.
What’s the difference between “breaching” and “leaking” in cybersecurity?
A “breach” is a violation or break-in; a “leak” is the unauthorized release of data.
Are there regional differences in how these synonyms are used?
Yes, for example, “weeping” is more common in British/Australian plumbing.

12. Conclusion

Mastering the synonyms of “leaking” allows you to communicate with accuracy and richness in English. From physical to figurative uses, from technical to informal, the right synonym helps you match the context, intensity, and audience of your message. Remember to consider nuance, register, and grammatical form when choosing your words.

Continue practicing with the examples and exercises in this guide. Revisit the tables for quick reference.

Over time, a varied and precise vocabulary will help you write and speak English with confidence—no leaks or slips!

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