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B1 Verb (present participle) / Adjective / Noun #42 most common 10 min read

leaking

Top 42

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips leaking in 30 Seconds

Explanation leaking in your Level:

At the A1 level, 'leaking' is a word you might use to talk about simple problems at home. It means that water is coming out of something where it should stay inside. For example, if your water bottle has a small hole, the water is leaking. If the rain comes through the roof of your house, the roof is leaking. It is a word for when things are broken and liquid comes out. You can think of it like a 'bad' way for water to move. You might see it in a picture book where a boat is leaking and the people have to fix it. It is an important word for telling someone that something is broken and making a mess with water.

At the A2 level, you can use 'leaking' to describe more things than just water. You might talk about a 'leaking pen' that gets ink on your hands, or a 'leaking bag' of milk from the grocery store. It is still mostly about liquids coming out of holes. You can use it in sentences like 'The pipe is leaking' or 'My pen is leaking.' You are learning that it is a continuous action—it is happening right now. You might also start to hear it in simple stories about secrets, like 'He is leaking the secret,' but the physical meaning is more common for you right now. It is a very useful word for explaining why there is a puddle on the floor or why your clothes are wet.

At the B1 level, you should understand both the physical and the metaphorical meanings of 'leaking.' You know it refers to water or gas escaping from a container, but you also understand it in the context of news and information. For example, if a movie's plot is told to the public before the movie is finished, you can say the information was 'leaking.' You can use it as an adjective (a leaking faucet) or a verb (the faucet is leaking). You are also becoming aware of related words like 'drip' or 'spill' and how they are different. You can use 'leaking' to describe problems in a more detailed way, such as 'The gas tank has been leaking for two days,' which shows you understand how to use it with different tenses.

At the B2 level, you can use 'leaking' with more nuance and in professional contexts. You understand that 'leaking' often implies a breach of security or a failure of a system. You might use it to discuss political scandals, where 'leaked documents' are a major topic. You also understand technical uses, such as a 'memory leak' in software or 'leaking' in a financial sense (like money being lost from an economy). You can use it to describe complex situations where information is released slowly and strategically. Your vocabulary includes synonyms like 'disclosing' or 'seeping,' and you know when 'leaking' is the most appropriate choice to convey a sense of unauthorized or accidental escape.

At the C1 level, you use 'leaking' to describe subtle and complex phenomena. You might talk about 'leaking' in terms of abstract concepts, such as 'authority leaking away' from a leader or 'value leaking' from a brand. You understand the ethical implications of 'whistleblowing' and 'leaking' information to the press. You can use the word in sophisticated sentence structures and understand its role in idioms and collocations. You are sensitive to the register of the word, knowing that 'leaking' can sound informal compared to 'divulging' or 'exfiltrating,' but also recognizing its power in journalism. You can analyze the impact of a 'leak' on public opinion or corporate strategy with precision and depth.

At the C2 level, you have a complete mastery of 'leaking' and all its connotations. You can use it to describe everything from the microscopic leaking of ions across a cell membrane to the global leaking of classified intelligence. You understand the historical significance of famous 'leaks' and how they have shaped modern society. You can use the word with perfect grammatical accuracy in any context, whether it is a technical scientific paper, a legal brief, or a piece of creative literature. You are aware of the most obscure synonyms and can choose the exact word to convey the speed, volume, and intent of the escape. For you, 'leaking' is a powerful tool for describing any situation where containment fails and the internal becomes external.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

leaking in 30 Seconds

Leaking refers to the escape of liquids, gases, or information through a hole, crack, or unauthorized channel, often causing damage or scandal.
It can be used as a verb (is leaking), an adjective (a leaking pipe), or a noun (the leaking of secrets) in various contexts.
Common physical examples include leaking roofs, faucets, and car engines, while metaphorical examples involve leaking classified documents or private data.
Synonyms like dripping, seeping, and disclosing offer more specific meanings depending on the speed and nature of the escape.

The word leaking is a versatile term that describes the process of a substance or information escaping from a place where it is supposed to be contained. In its most literal sense, it refers to physical fluids like water, oil, or gas slipping through a crack or hole in a container, pipe, or structure. Imagine a kitchen faucet that does not shut off completely, or a roof that allows rainwater to enter the attic during a heavy storm; these are classic examples of physical leaking. However, the word has evolved significantly in modern usage to encompass the unauthorized or accidental disclosure of sensitive data, secrets, or confidential documents. This metaphorical use is extremely common in politics, journalism, and corporate environments, where a 'leak' can change the course of history or destroy a company's reputation.

Physical Escape: The movement of liquid or gas through a breach in a boundary, often resulting in waste or damage.

The old radiator has been leaking rusty water onto the carpet all afternoon.

Information Disclosure: The act of making private or classified information known to the public or unauthorized parties, often intentionally by a whistleblower.

Someone within the department is leaking the internal memos to the press.

In technical contexts, specifically in computer science, we encounter the term 'memory leaking.' This occurs when a computer program fails to release memory it no longer needs, leading to a gradual decrease in available system resources and eventually causing the software to slow down or crash. This demonstrates how the concept of 'escaping' or 'losing' something essential applies across various domains. Whether it is a boat taking on water or a government official sharing classified files, the core essence of 'leaking' remains the same: a failure of containment that leads to unintended consequences.

Biological Context: In medicine, it can refer to fluids like blood or lymph escaping from vessels into surrounding tissues.

The doctor expressed concern that the wound was leaking clear fluid, which might indicate an infection.

The submarine crew realized that high-pressure oil was leaking from the hydraulic system.

The tech blog claimed to have photos of the new smartphone that were leaking from the factory floor.

Using the word leaking correctly requires an understanding of its grammatical roles as a verb, an adjective, and sometimes a noun. As a verb in the continuous tense, it describes an action currently taking place. For instance, 'The ceiling is leaking' implies that water is falling right now. When used as an adjective, it describes the state of an object, such as 'a leaking battery' or 'a leaking pipe.' In these cases, the word modifies the noun to indicate its faulty condition. It is important to note the prepositional patterns that follow the word; we often say something is leaking 'from' a source or 'into' a destination.

Verb Pattern: Subject + Be + Leaking: Used to describe an active process of escape. Example: 'The gas tank is leaking.'

We had to call the plumber because the kitchen sink was leaking profusely.

Adjective Pattern: Leaking + Noun: Used to identify a broken or faulty object. Example: 'Please dispose of that leaking container.'

The investigator found a leaking valve that caused the entire explosion.

When discussing information, the subject is often the person or entity responsible for the disclosure. For example, 'The whistleblower is leaking the documents to the media.' Here, 'leaking' functions as a transitive verb with 'documents' as the direct object. Conversely, you can say 'The documents are leaking out,' where the focus is on the information itself escaping. This flexibility allows speakers to emphasize either the source of the leak or the content being leaked. In professional writing, 'leaking' is often paired with adverbs like 'intentionally,' 'accidentally,' or 'slowly' to provide more detail about the nature of the event.

Noun Usage: The Leaking of...: Used to name the event itself. Example: 'The leaking of the exam papers caused a scandal.'

The constant leaking of corporate strategy has demoralized the management team.

After the heavy rain, we noticed the basement walls were leaking moisture.

Is that pen leaking ink all over your shirt pocket?

The word leaking is a staple in news broadcasts, particularly those covering political scandals or corporate espionage. You will frequently hear news anchors say things like, 'Classified documents are leaking from the White House,' or 'Anonymous sources are leaking details of the upcoming merger.' This usage highlights the tension between secrecy and the public's right to know. In everyday life, you are most likely to encounter the word in the context of home maintenance and automotive repairs. A mechanic might tell you that your car is leaking coolant, or a landlord might apologize for a leaking roof. These scenarios emphasize the inconvenience and potential danger associated with containment failure.

News & Media: Commonly used to describe the release of secret information to journalists.

The journalist was arrested for refusing to name the person who was leaking the classified files.

Home & DIY: Used when discussing plumbing, roofing, or appliance issues.

I think the dishwasher is leaking because there is a puddle on the floor.

In the digital age, 'leaking' has become a central theme in cybersecurity. We hear about 'data leaking' when personal information like passwords or credit card numbers are exposed due to poor security practices. This can happen through 'leaky buckets' in cloud storage or through malicious actors. Furthermore, in the entertainment industry, fans often talk about 'leaking' songs or movie trailers. If a pop star's new album appears online a week before its release date, it is described as having been leaked. This shows how the word has moved from the physical world of pipes and buckets into the abstract world of digital bits and cultural products.

Environmental Science: Used to describe pollutants escaping into the ecosystem, such as oil leaking from a tanker.

The damaged pipeline has been leaking crude oil into the ocean for three days.

Is the refrigerator leaking freon gas? I can smell something strange.

The government is worried about someone leaking the budget details before the official announcement.

One of the most frequent mistakes learners make is confusing leaking with 'dripping' or 'seeping.' While they are related, they describe different speeds and methods of escape. 'Dripping' specifically refers to liquid falling in individual drops, like a leaky faucet that goes 'drip, drip, drip.' 'Leaking' is a broader term that can include dripping but also covers a steady stream or a spray. 'Seeping,' on the other hand, describes a very slow, gradual movement of liquid through a porous material, like water seeping through a brick wall. Using 'leaking' when you mean 'seeping' might lead to a misunderstanding of the severity of the problem.

Leaking vs. Dripping: Dripping is rhythmic and slow; leaking can be fast, slow, or a continuous stream.

Incorrect: The faucet is seeping water. Correct: The faucet is leaking or dripping.

Leaking vs. Spilling: Spilling is usually a one-time accidental tip-over; leaking is an escape through a hole or crack.

Incorrect: I leaked my coffee on the table. Correct: I spilled my coffee.

Another common error involves the misuse of 'leaking' in the context of information. Some speakers might say 'He leaked the secret to me,' which is correct, but they might mistakenly say 'The secret leaked me,' which is grammatically incorrect. The information leaks 'to' someone or 'out' to the public. Additionally, learners often forget that 'leaking' can be an adjective. Instead of saying 'the pipe that is leaking,' you can simply say 'the leaking pipe.' Finally, be careful with the spelling; it is often misspelled as 'leeking' or 'leaking' (with an extra 'e'). Always remember the 'ea' combination found in 'leak.'

Transitive Misuse: Ensure the subject is the thing doing the leaking or the person causing it.

Incorrect: The news leaked the reporter. Correct: The reporter received the leaked news.

The leaking roof caused significant water damage to the ceiling tiles.

We found that the battery was leaking acid, which is very dangerous.

When you want to be more precise than just using leaking, there are several synonyms you can choose from, depending on the context. For physical liquids, 'dripping,' 'seeping,' 'oozing,' and 'trickling' are excellent alternatives. 'Oozing' suggests a thick liquid moving very slowly, like honey or mud. 'Trickling' implies a thin, steady stream of liquid. In the context of information, you might use 'disclosing,' 'revealing,' 'divulging,' or 'exposing.' 'Divulging' often carries a sense of sharing something personal or private, while 'exposing' usually implies revealing something bad or scandalous that was meant to be hidden.

Dripping: Falling in small drops. Best for faucets or rain from a roof.

Seeping: Passing slowly through small openings or pores. Best for soil or walls.

Instead of leaking, the wound was actually oozing a thick, yellow substance.

Divulging: Making known private or sensitive information. Best for personal secrets.

The executive was accused of divulging trade secrets to a competitor.

In more technical or formal settings, you might encounter 'exfiltrating' when talking about data being stolen from a network. This is a more specific term than 'leaking' and implies a deliberate, often criminal, action. For gases, 'escaping' or 'venting' are common terms. 'Venting' is often used when the escape is intentional, such as a safety valve venting steam to prevent an explosion. Understanding these nuances helps you choose the word that perfectly fits the situation. For example, a 'leaking' pipe is a problem, but a 'venting' pipe might be a safety feature. Similarly, a 'leaked' document is a scandal, but a 'disclosed' document is often part of a standard legal procedure.

Exfiltrating: The unauthorized transfer of data from a computer. Best for cybersecurity.

Hackers were caught exfiltrating customer records from the server.

The steam was venting from the pressure cooker to keep it from exploding.

Water was trickling down the mountain side after the snow began to melt.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The metaphorical use of 'leaking' to describe the disclosure of secrets didn't become common until the early 20th century, particularly in the context of political journalism.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ˈliːkɪŋ/

US /ˈlikɪŋ/

The stress is on the first syllable: LEAK-ing.

Rhymes With

seeking peeking speaking sneaking tweaking creaking reeking shrieking

Common Errors

Pronouncing it like 'licking' (short 'i' instead of long 'ee').
Adding an extra 'e' sound at the end.
Not pronouncing the 'ng' sound clearly.
Confusing the spelling with 'leeking'.
Pronouncing the 'ea' as 'eh' like in 'bread'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

Easy to recognize in context, but metaphorical uses require more focus.

Writing 4/5

Requires correct spelling and understanding of transitive/intransitive patterns.

Speaking 3/5

Commonly used in daily life and news; pronunciation is straightforward.

Listening 3/5

Easily understood, though can be confused with 'licking' if not careful.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

water hole secret broken escape

Learn Next

disclosure whistleblower integrity containment seepage

Advanced

exfiltration divulgence permeability transparency espionage

Grammar to Know

Present Participle as Adjective

The leaking pipe (adjective) vs. The pipe is leaking (verb).

Gerund as Subject

Leaking information is a serious crime in this company.

Transitive vs. Intransitive

The pipe is leaking (intransitive). He is leaking secrets (transitive).

Prepositional Phrases

Leaking FROM the tank INTO the ground.

Compound Nouns

A memory-leaking bug was found in the software.

Examples by Level

The water bottle is leaking.

La bouteille d'eau fuit.

Present continuous tense (is + leaking).

Look! The roof is leaking.

Regarde ! Le toit fuit.

Used to describe a current problem.

My pen is leaking ink.

Mon stylo fuit de l'encre.

Leaking + noun (ink).

The boat is leaking water.

Le bateau prend l'eau.

Common use for vehicles.

Is the sink leaking?

Est-ce que l'évier fuit ?

Question form.

The bag is leaking milk.

Le sac fuit du lait.

Simple subject-verb-object.

Don't use that leaking cup.

N'utilise pas cette tasse qui fuit.

Used as an adjective.

The pipe is leaking slowly.

Le tuyau fuit lentement.

Modified by an adverb (slowly).

I found a leaking pipe under the stairs.

J'ai trouvé un tuyau qui fuit sous l'escalier.

Adjective 'leaking' modifying 'pipe'.

The car is leaking oil on the driveway.

La voiture fuit de l'huile sur l'allée.

Present continuous with a location.

He is leaking the secret to his friends.

Il divulgue le secret à ses amis.

Metaphorical use for information.

The ceiling started leaking during the storm.

Le plafond a commencé à fuir pendant la tempête.

Past tense 'started' + gerund 'leaking'.

Is your refrigerator leaking water again?

Ton réfrigérateur fuit encore de l'eau ?

Use of 'again' to show a recurring problem.

The old battery was leaking acid.

La vieille pile fuyait de l'acide.

Past continuous tense.

We need to fix the leaking faucet.

Nous devons réparer le robinet qui fuit.

Attributive adjective.

The tent was leaking in the middle of the night.

La tente fuyait au milieu de la nuit.

Setting a scene in the past.

The company is investigating who is leaking the internal documents.

L'entreprise enquête pour savoir qui divulgue les documents internes.

Present continuous in a complex sentence.

The radiator has been leaking for several days.

Le radiateur fuit depuis plusieurs jours.

Present perfect continuous (has been leaking).

If the gas is leaking, you must leave the building immediately.

Si le gaz fuit, vous devez quitter le bâtiment immédiatement.

Conditional sentence (Type 1).

The journalist received a tip about leaking information from the palace.

Le journaliste a reçu un tuyau sur des fuites d'informations du palais.

Gerund used as part of a noun phrase.

A leaking roof can cause a lot of damage to your home.

Un toit qui fuit peut causer beaucoup de dégâts à votre maison.

Modal verb 'can' expressing possibility.

The news about the merger was leaking out slowly.

La nouvelle de la fusion s'ébruitait lentement.

Phrasal verb 'leak out'.

I suspect the coolant is leaking from the engine.

Je soupçonne que le liquide de refroidissement fuit du moteur.

Verb 'suspect' followed by a clause.

The leaking of the exam answers was a huge scandal.

La fuite des réponses de l'examen a été un énorme scandale.

Gerund used as a noun (the leaking of...).

The whistleblower was accused of leaking classified military secrets.

Le lanceur d'alerte a été accusé d'avoir divulgué des secrets militaires classifiés.

Passive voice + preposition 'of' + gerund.

Software developers are trying to fix a memory leaking issue in the new app.

Les développeurs de logiciels essaient de corriger un problème de fuite de mémoire dans la nouvelle application.

Technical compound noun 'memory leaking issue'.

Despite the security measures, sensitive data was still leaking onto the dark web.

Malgré les mesures de sécurité, des données sensibles fuitaient toujours sur le dark web.

Concessive clause starting with 'Despite'.

The chemical plant was fined for leaking toxic waste into the river.

L'usine chimique a été condamnée à une amende pour avoir déversé des déchets toxiques dans la rivière.

Prepositional phrase 'for leaking'.

There is a risk of information leaking if we do not use encrypted channels.

Il y a un risque de fuite d'informations si nous n'utilisons pas de canaux cryptés.

Noun 'risk' + preposition 'of' + gerund phrase.

The boat was leaking so badly that they had to abandon it.

Le bateau fuyait tellement qu'ils ont dû l'abandonner.

Adverbial phrase 'so badly that'.

The leaking of the private emails led to the CEO's resignation.

La fuite des courriels privés a conduit à la démission du PDG.

Gerund as a subject.

Scientists are monitoring the leaking of methane from the melting permafrost.

Les scientifiques surveillent les fuites de méthane provenant de la fonte du pergélisol.

Present continuous with a complex object.

The administration struggled to contain the leaking of strategic plans to the opposition.

L'administration a eu du mal à contenir la fuite des plans stratégiques vers l'opposition.

Infinitive 'to contain' + noun phrase.

We noticed a slow leaking of confidence among the investors after the report was published.

Nous avons remarqué une lente érosion de la confiance parmi les investisseurs après la publication du rapport.

Metaphorical use for abstract concepts (confidence).

The dam showed signs of leaking, prompting an immediate evacuation of the valley.

Le barrage montrait des signes de fuite, provoquant une évacuation immédiate de la vallée.

Participle phrase 'prompting...'.

The court ruled that the leaking of the testimony was a violation of the gag order.

Le tribunal a jugé que la divulgation du témoignage était une violation de l'ordonnance de non-publication.

That-clause as a direct object.

Is the vessel leaking because of structural fatigue or poor maintenance?

Le navire fuit-il à cause de la fatigue structurelle ou d'un mauvais entretien ?

Interrogative with 'because of'.

The leaking of the story was timed to coincide with the start of the election campaign.

La fuite de l'histoire a été programmée pour coïncider avec le début de la campagne électorale.

Passive voice + infinitive of purpose.

The company's profits are leaking away due to inefficient logistics.

Les bénéfices de l'entreprise s'envolent à cause d'une logistique inefficace.

Phrasal verb 'leak away' (metaphorical).

The leaking of radiation from the site remains a significant environmental concern.

La fuite de radiations du site reste une préoccupation environnementale majeure.

Subject-verb agreement with a gerund subject.

The sheer volume of leaking intelligence suggested a systemic failure in the agency's vetting process.

Le volume considérable de fuites de renseignements suggérait une défaillance systémique dans le processus de vérification de l'agence.

Complex noun phrase as subject.

The leaking of the internal memo served as a catalyst for the subsequent protest movement.

La fuite de la note interne a servi de catalyseur au mouvement de protestation qui a suivi.

Metaphorical 'catalyst' usage.

By leaking the details of the treaty, the diplomat effectively sabotaged the peace negotiations.

En divulguant les détails du traité, le diplomate a effectivement saboté les négociations de paix.

Gerund phrase as an adverbial of manner.

The leaking of sensitive personal data has profound implications for individual privacy in the digital age.

La fuite de données personnelles sensibles a des implications profondes pour la vie privée des individus à l'ère numérique.

Abstract noun 'implications'.

The spacecraft's mission was jeopardized by a leaking fuel line in the secondary propulsion system.

La mission de l'engin spatial a été compromise par une fuite dans une conduite de carburant du système de propulsion secondaire.

Passive voice with 'by' agent.

The leaking of the report was a calculated move to undermine the prime minister's authority.

La fuite du rapport était une démarche calculée pour saper l'autorité du premier ministre.

Infinitive phrase of purpose.

The reservoir is leaking through the bedrock, which could lead to a catastrophic collapse.

Le réservoir fuit à travers le socle rocheux, ce qui pourrait conduire à un effondrement catastrophique.

Relative clause 'which could lead...'.

The leaking of the company's proprietary algorithm gave its competitors an unfair advantage.

La fuite de l'algorithme propriétaire de l'entreprise a donné à ses concurrents un avantage déloyal.

Possessive noun phrase 'company's proprietary algorithm'.

Common Collocations

leaking pipe

leaking roof

leaking information

leaking gas

leaking oil

leaking faucet

leaking secrets

memory leaking

leaking battery

leaking data

Common Phrases

stop the leaking

— To take action to prevent a substance or information from escaping further.

We must stop the leaking of sensitive data immediately.

slow leaking

— A leak that happens at a very low speed, often hard to detect initially.

There is a slow leaking of air from the tire.

leaking like a sieve

— Used to describe something that has many holes and is losing a lot of substance or information.

The defense's case was leaking like a sieve.

leaking out

— The process of information becoming known to the public gradually.

The news of the scandal is starting to leak out.

leaking from

— Specifying the source of the leak.

Water is leaking from the ceiling.

leaking into

— Specifying the destination or area affected by the leak.

Oil is leaking into the ocean.

caught leaking

— Being discovered while disclosing secret information.

The employee was caught leaking trade secrets.

prevent leaking

— To take measures to ensure nothing escapes.

New seals were installed to prevent leaking.

leaking profusely

— Leaking in large amounts or very quickly.

The pipe was leaking profusely after it burst.

accidental leaking

— When information or a substance escapes without intention.

The accidental leaking of the email caused embarrassment.

Often Confused With

leaking vs dripping

Dripping is slow and rhythmic; leaking is more general and can be fast.

leaking vs seeping

Seeping is very slow and through a porous surface; leaking is through a hole.

leaking vs spilling

Spilling is usually a one-time accident; leaking is an ongoing problem from a fault.

Idioms & Expressions

"leak like a sieve"

— To be completely unable to keep a secret or to have many holes/faults.

Don't tell her anything; she leaks like a sieve.

informal

"a leak in the ship"

— A problem that threatens the success of a project or organization.

We need to find the leak in the ship before the company goes bankrupt.

metaphorical

"take a leak"

— A very informal and slang way to say one needs to urinate.

He had to stop the car to take a leak.

slang

"plug the leak"

— To stop information from being disclosed or to fix a problem.

The manager is trying to plug the leak in the department.

neutral

"leak the news"

— To intentionally give information to the media before it is official.

They decided to leak the news to see the public's reaction.

neutral

"spring a leak"

— To suddenly start leaking, often used for boats or pipes.

The old boat sprang a leak in the middle of the lake.

neutral

"leak to the press"

— To give secret information to journalists.

The documents were leaked to the press by an anonymous source.

neutral

"data leak"

— The unauthorized release of digital information.

The data leak affected millions of users.

technical

"leak through"

— When something becomes known despite efforts to hide it.

The truth eventually leaked through the lies.

metaphorical

"leak away"

— To gradually disappear or be lost, often used for abstract things like time or money.

His wealth is slowly leaking away due to bad investments.

metaphorical

Easily Confused

leaking vs licking

Similar pronunciation.

Licking is using your tongue; leaking is a substance escaping.

The dog is licking the leaking water from the floor.

leaking vs linking

Similar spelling.

Linking is connecting things; leaking is things escaping.

We are linking the two pipes to stop the leaking.

leaking vs looking

Visual similarity in fast reading.

Looking is using your eyes; leaking is escaping.

I am looking for the place where the water is leaking.

leaking vs lacking

Similar sound.

Lacking means not having enough; leaking means losing something.

The team is lacking the tools to fix the leaking roof.

leaking vs reeking

Rhyming word.

Reeking means smelling very bad; leaking means escaping.

The room was reeking of gas because the stove was leaking.

Sentence Patterns

The [object] is leaking.

The bottle is leaking.

The [object] is leaking [substance].

The pen is leaking ink.

I found a leaking [noun].

I found a leaking pipe.

[Information] is leaking out.

The secret is leaking out.

[Person] was accused of leaking [information].

He was accused of leaking the report.

The leaking of [noun] caused [consequence].

The leaking of the data caused a scandal.

[Abstract concept] is leaking away.

Our profits are leaking away.

A systemic failure led to the leaking of [complex noun].

A systemic failure led to the leaking of classified intelligence.

Word Family

Nouns

leak

leakage

leaker

Verbs

leak

Adjectives

leaky

leaking

leaked

whistleblower

disclosure

breach

seepage

spillage

How to Use It

frequency

Very common in both spoken and written English.

Common Mistakes

The faucet is spilling. → The faucet is leaking.
Faucets leak because they are broken; you spill a cup of water by accident.
I am leeking the secret. → I am leaking the secret.
The spelling is 'leak' with an 'ea', not 'leek' (which is a vegetable).
The news leaked the reporter. → The news was leaked to the reporter.
Information leaks 'to' people; people do not get leaked by information.
There is a water leaking in the kitchen. → There is a water leak in the kitchen.
Use 'leak' as a noun for the event, or 'leaking' as a verb/adjective.
The wall is dripping water. → The wall is leaking or seeping water.
Walls usually 'seep' or 'leak'; 'dripping' is better for ceilings or faucets where drops fall.

Tips

Using 'Leaking' as an Adjective

Remember that 'leaking' can describe a noun directly. Instead of saying 'The pipe that is leaking,' you can say 'The leaking pipe.' This is more concise and common in natural English.

Leaking vs. Spilling

Don't confuse these two. A 'leak' is usually a fault in the container (a hole). A 'spill' is usually an accident by the person holding the container (tipping it over).

Gas Leaks

In English, we always say 'gas leak' or 'leaking gas.' If you hear this, it is a serious warning. Always open windows and leave the area.

Memory Leaks

If your phone or computer is getting very slow, a 'memory leaking' app might be the cause. Restarting the device usually stops the leaking temporarily.

Metaphorical Leaks

Use 'leaking' to describe things that are slowly disappearing, like 'leaking confidence' or 'leaking support.' It creates a vivid image of something being lost bit by bit.

The Long 'E'

Make sure to hold the 'ee' sound. If you say it too quickly, it sounds like 'licking,' which means something completely different!

Leaking Secrets

In a business context, 'leaking' is a very strong word. If you want to be more polite, use 'disclosing' or 'sharing' unless you mean to accuse someone of a mistake.

Fixing Leaks

When talking to a plumber, be specific. Is it 'leaking from the joint' or 'leaking from a crack'? This helps them understand the problem faster.

Environmental Leaks

When talking about the environment, 'leaking' is often used for oil or chemicals. It emphasizes the damage being done to nature.

Leaking like a sieve

Use this idiom when someone is very bad at keeping secrets. It's a funny and common way to describe a 'big mouth'.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'Leak' in a 'Lake'. If the lake has a leak, the water escapes. Both words have 'L' and 'K'.

Visual Association

Imagine a bright blue bucket with a small hole at the bottom. Water is shooting out in a thin stream. Next to it, imagine a person whispering a secret into a giant ear, and the secret is falling out of the other side of the head like water.

Word Web

water secret hole pipe news gas broken whistleblower

Challenge

Try to use 'leaking' in three different ways today: once for a liquid, once for a gas, and once for a piece of information.

Word Origin

The word 'leak' comes from the Middle English word 'leken', which originated from the Old Norse word 'leka', meaning to drip or leak. It is also related to the Dutch word 'lekken' and the German word 'lecken'. The term has been used since the 14th century to describe the escape of water from a vessel.

Original meaning: To allow water to enter or escape through a hole.

Germanic

Cultural Context

Be careful when using 'leaking' in a professional environment, as it can imply that someone is being untrustworthy or incompetent.

The term is heavily used in UK and US politics to describe the strategic release of information to influence public opinion.

The Pentagon Papers (1971) WikiLeaks (founded 2006) Edward Snowden's NSA leaks (2013)

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Home Maintenance

leaking faucet
leaking roof
leaking pipe
fix the leak

Politics and News

leaked documents
leaking information
anonymous source
whistleblower

Technology

memory leak
data leak
leaking credentials
security breach

Automotive

leaking oil
leaking coolant
leaking brake fluid
tire is leaking air

Medical

leaking wound
leaking valve
fluid leaking
internal leaking

Conversation Starters

"Have you ever had a leaking roof during a big storm?"

"What do you think about people who are caught leaking government secrets?"

"Is your car leaking any oil lately? I noticed a spot on the driveway."

"How do you usually fix a leaking faucet in your house?"

"Do you think leaking movie spoilers is a bad thing to do?"

Journal Prompts

Describe a time when you discovered something was leaking in your home. How did you fix it?

Write about a secret that was leaking out in your friend group. How did people react?

If you were a journalist and someone was leaking important information to you, would you publish it?

Imagine a world where nothing could be kept secret. How would 'leaking' change in that world?

Discuss the environmental impact of a large oil tanker leaking in the ocean.

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

In most cases, yes, because it implies a failure of containment or a breach of trust. However, in journalism, 'leaking' can be seen as a positive way to expose truth. In some technical contexts, 'venting' (a type of controlled leak) is a safety feature.

'Leaking' is the action or process happening now, while 'leakage' is the noun referring to the amount of substance that has escaped or the general state of the leak. For example, 'The pipe is leaking' (action) vs. 'We must measure the leakage' (amount).

Yes, but usually metaphorically. If someone is 'leaking' information, they are sharing secrets. In slang, 'taking a leak' refers to a person urinating, but this is very informal.

The past tense is 'leaked'. For example, 'The water leaked out overnight.' The present participle is 'leaking'.

A memory leak happens when a program uses computer memory but forgets to give it back when it is finished. This makes the computer run slowly because it 'leaks' its available resources.

It can be both. 'The pipe is leaking' (intransitive - no object). 'He is leaking the secret' (transitive - 'the secret' is the object).

A 'sealed' or 'watertight' pipe is the opposite. These terms mean that nothing can escape.

Yes, 'light leaking' or 'light leaks' occur when light enters a camera or a dark room through a small hole, often ruining a photograph.

It is an idiom that means something is losing a lot of substance or information very quickly because it has many holes or faults.

Yes, doctors use it to describe fluids like blood or spinal fluid escaping from where they should be, such as a 'leaking heart valve'.