leaking
Leaking means that a liquid or gas is escaping from a hole, or secret information is being shared.
Explanation at your level:
When water comes out of a hole, we say it is leaking. If your water bottle has a hole, it is leaking water. It is not good!
You use leaking when something is broken. A leaking pipe makes a mess on the floor. We also use it when a secret is told to people who should not know it.
The word leaking describes a substance escaping from a container. You might say, 'The roof is leaking,' or 'The gas is leaking from the tank.' It is also used metaphorically for information being released without permission.
Beyond physical containers, leaking is frequently used in journalism. When a government official shares classified files, they are leaking information. It implies a loss of containment or control over a situation.
In advanced usage, leaking can describe the gradual loss of energy, heat, or data. It suggests a slow, often unwanted, dissipation. In political discourse, 'leaking' is a loaded term that often implies a breach of trust or a strategic move to manipulate public opinion.
Etymologically, leaking connects to the concept of porosity and containment. In complex systems, we speak of 'data leakage' or 'memory leaks' in computer science, where resources are inadvertently lost. It represents the failure of a boundary, whether that boundary is a physical hull, a digital firewall, or a veil of professional secrecy.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Leaking means liquid escaping from a container.
- It also means revealing secrets.
- It is a present participle.
- Commonly used for pipes and news.
Hey there! Let's talk about the word leaking. It is a super versatile word that describes two very different things.
First, think of a leaking pipe. If you see water dripping from under your sink, that pipe is leaking. It means there is a crack or a hole, and the water is escaping.
Second, we use it for secrets. If someone tells the newspaper a secret they shouldn't have, we say they are leaking information. It is like a secret 'escaping' from a place where it was supposed to stay hidden.
The word leaking comes from the Middle English word leken, which meant to drip or to pass through a porous substance. It has deep roots in Old Norse leka and Old English leccan.
Historically, it was almost exclusively used for ships. If a boat was leaking, it was a very serious problem! Over time, the meaning expanded to include gases and eventually, in the 20th century, the metaphorical 'leaking' of information.
In daily life, we often pair leaking with household items like roof, faucet, or tire. For example, 'The roof is leaking during this storm.'
In professional or news settings, you will hear about leaking documents or leaking news. This is a bit more formal and carries a sense of betrayal or scandal.
1. To spring a leak: To suddenly start leaking. 'The boat sprang a leak during the storm.'
2. A leaky bucket: Something that cannot hold onto things. 'His memory is like a leaky bucket.'
3. Plug the leak: To stop a problem. 'We need to plug the leak in our budget.'
4. Leaking like a sieve: Losing things very quickly. 'The old tent was leaking like a sieve.'
5. Leak out: Information becoming public. 'The news began to leak out slowly.'
Leaking is the present participle of the verb 'to leak'. You can use it as an adjective (e.g., 'a leaking roof') or as part of a continuous verb tense (e.g., 'The gas is leaking').
Pronunciation: UK /ˈliːkɪŋ/ and US /ˈliːkɪŋ/. The stress is on the first syllable. It rhymes with seeking, peeking, sneaking, speaking, and reeking.
Fun Fact
Originally used for ships, now used for digital data.
Pronunciation Guide
Long 'ee' sound, clear 'k', ending in a soft 'ing'.
Similar to UK, slightly more emphasis on the 'ing'.
Common Errors
- Pronouncing it like 'licking'
- Ignoring the long 'ee' sound
- Adding an extra syllable
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
easy
easy
easy
easy
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Present Continuous
is leaking
Participles as Adjectives
a leaking roof
Articles with Nouns
the leaking
Examples by Level
The pipe is leaking.
pipe=tube, leaking=water coming out
present continuous
My bag is leaking.
bag=carrier, leaking=stuff coming out
present continuous
The roof is leaking.
roof=top of house, leaking=rain coming in
present continuous
Stop the leaking!
stop=halt, leaking=the action
imperative
Is it leaking?
is it=question form
interrogative
The tank is leaking.
tank=large container
present continuous
I see leaking water.
see=look at
adjective usage
It is not leaking.
not=negative
negative
The faucet has been leaking all day.
I think the boat is leaking.
We found a leaking pipe in the basement.
The news is leaking to the public.
Check if the bottle is leaking.
The radiator is leaking fluid.
He is leaking secrets to the press.
The leaking roof caused damage.
The company is investigating who is leaking internal emails.
We need to fix the leaking valve immediately.
The secret plan started leaking out to the competitors.
A leaking roof is a major problem for homeowners.
The government is concerned about leaking classified data.
The boat was leaking, so we had to return to shore.
I noticed a leaking sound from the gas pipe.
The leaking information caused a scandal.
The whistleblower was responsible for leaking the documents.
There is a persistent leaking of funds from the project.
The leaking of the candidate's private conversation was intentional.
Experts are trying to contain the leaking radiation.
The leaking of the new product design ruined the launch.
Despite the repairs, the tank is still leaking.
The leaking of sensitive data is a security risk.
The leaking of the script spoiled the movie ending.
The systemic leaking of proprietary information is a corporate crisis.
He was accused of leaking confidential intelligence to foreign agents.
The leaking of the court's decision caused widespread protest.
The leaking of the dam was a catastrophic failure.
The leaking of heat from the building is increasing energy costs.
The leaking of the story was a calculated political maneuver.
The leaking of the database was traced to a former employee.
The leaking of the secret treaty changed the course of the war.
The clandestine leaking of state secrets undermined the administration.
The leaking of the chemical agent posed an environmental hazard.
The leaking of the manuscript before publication was a tragedy.
The leaking of the truth was inevitable in such a corrupt system.
The leaking of the vessel's hull led to its eventual sinking.
The leaking of the confidential audit report shocked investors.
The leaking of the classified archives remains a historical mystery.
The leaking of the private correspondence was a breach of ethics.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"spring a leak"
to start leaking suddenly
The boat sprang a leak.
neutral"plug the leak"
to fix the problem
We must plug the leak in security.
neutral"leak like a sieve"
to lose things easily
My memory leaks like a sieve.
casual"a leaky bucket"
something that loses value/data
The strategy is a leaky bucket.
business"leak out"
to become known
The news leaked out.
neutral"stop the leak"
to prevent further loss
We need to stop the leak of funds.
neutralEasily Confused
similar sound
licking is with the tongue
The dog is licking his paw.
N/A
leaking is about holes
The pipe is leaking.
N/A
leaking is about secrets
He is leaking news.
N/A
leaking is about gas
Gas is leaking.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + is + leaking + [noun]
The pipe is leaking water.
Subject + is + leaking + [preposition]
The gas is leaking from the tank.
The [noun] is leaking
The roof is leaking.
He is leaking [noun] to [person]
He is leaking secrets to the press.
There is a leaking [noun]
There is a leaking valve.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
7
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
Don't use 'of' between the participle and the noun.
Need the article 'the'.
Use the participle for the action.
The verb 'leaking' already implies the movement.
Adjective or participle is required.
Tips
Memory Palace
Imagine a bucket in your room leaking.
News Context
Listen for 'leaking' in politics.
Whistleblowers
Often associated with leaks.
Continuous Tense
Use 'is/are' + leaking.
The 'ee' sound
Smile when you say 'lee'.
Noun vs Verb
Don't confuse leaking with leakage.
Ship History
It started with boats!
Flashcards
Use pictures of pipes.
Digital Leaks
Often used in cybersecurity.
Adjective use
A leaking roof (adjective).
Memorize It
Mnemonic
L-E-A-K: Liquid Escaping Always Known
Visual Association
A bucket with a hole in the bottom.
Word Web
Challenge
Find one thing in your house that is NOT leaking.
Word Origin
Middle English
Original meaning: to drip
Cultural Context
Can be a serious accusation in professional settings.
Commonly used in news headlines regarding politics.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
at home
- fix the leak
- water on the floor
- call the plumber
at work
- confidential data
- security breach
- internal documents
travel
- boat is sinking
- tire is flat
- air leak
news
- breaking news
- anonymous source
- leaked report
Conversation Starters
"Have you ever had a leaking pipe at home?"
"What would you do if you found a leaking gas tank?"
"Do you think leaking information is ever okay?"
"Have you heard any news that was leaked recently?"
"How can we stop a leaking roof?"
Journal Prompts
Describe a time you had to fix a leak.
Write about the ethics of leaking secrets.
Imagine a world where everything leaks.
What is the most serious leak you have heard of?
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsYes, it is the present participle.
Yes, a tire can be leaking air.
Leak or leakage.
Usually, yes.
Use a sealant or call a pro.
Only metaphorically, like leaking information.
It is an adjective for something that leaks.
Dripping is a form of leaking.
Test Yourself
The pipe is ___.
Present continuous requires -ing.
What does a leaking roof do?
Leaking means letting something out or in.
Leaking can only be used for water.
It can also be used for information.
Word
Meaning
Context matters.
The information is leaking.
Which is a synonym for leaking information?
Disclosing means revealing.
Data can be leaking.
It is a common term in IT.
The ___ of the secret ruined his career.
Noun form is leakage.
Which idiom means to stop a problem?
Plug the leak is the idiom.
The systemic data was leaking.
Score: /10
Summary
Leaking is about things escaping from where they should be, whether it is water from a pipe or a secret from a person.
- Leaking means liquid escaping from a container.
- It also means revealing secrets.
- It is a present participle.
- Commonly used for pipes and news.
Memory Palace
Imagine a bucket in your room leaking.
News Context
Listen for 'leaking' in politics.
Whistleblowers
Often associated with leaks.
Continuous Tense
Use 'is/are' + leaking.
