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leak
/liːk/
to escape or disclose secretly
The company confirmed that customer data had leaked online.
The company admitted that confidential information was accidentally shared publicly.
general
to accidentally or intentionally let a liquid, gas, or information pass through a hole or crack
Water leaked from the pipe and damaged the floor.
Water escaped through a crack in the pipe, causing water damage.
Can be used literally (liquid/gas) or figuratively (information).
informal
to disclose confidential or secret information to the public or unauthorized parties
The journalist leaked the scandalous memo to the press.
The journalist secretly shared the damaging internal document with reporters.
Common in journalism, politics, and corporate settings.
general
a hole or crack through which liquid, gas, or information escapes
There's a leak in the roof during heavy rain.
The roof has a gap that allows water to enter during storms.
formal
a deliberate or accidental disclosure of secret information
The government denied any involvement in the intelligence leak.
Officials claimed they had no part in revealing classified intelligence.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Distinguish literal vs. figurative use
Use 'leak' for liquids/gases when the context is physical (e.g., 'The pipe is leaking'). For information, it’s usually figurative (e.g., 'Someone leaked the exam answers').
Gold Rule
Prepositions with 'leak'
Use 'from' for the source of a leak (e.g., 'Water leaked from the tank') and 'into' for the destination (e.g., 'Gas leaked into the room'). For information, use 'to' (e.g., 'The memo leaked to the media').
Word Origin
From Middle English *leken*, from Old English *hlēcian* ('to moisten'), related to Old Norse *hlækr* ('dripping'). The figurative sense of revealing secret information emerged in the 19th century, likely from the idea of 'escaping' like a liquid.
Usage Notes
The verb 'leak' is often followed by 'to' when indicating the recipient of information (e.g., 'leak to the press'). The noun 'leak' can refer to either the hole/crack or the act of disclosure. In computing, 'data leak' is more common than 'data breach' in informal contexts.
Word Breakdown
leak
to escape or disclose
rootEnglish Dictionary