1 B1 neutral
Of a liquid or gas: to escape through a crack, hole, or faulty seal.
"Water was leaking out from a joint in the pipe beneath the sink."
inseparable
leak out
B1 neutral inseparable intransitive
For a liquid to escape through a hole or crack, or for secret information to become known without authorisation.
In plain English
Escape through a small hole (liquid), or when a secret is told and people find out.
What does "leak out" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 idiomatic neutral
Of secret or confidential information: to become known to the public or unauthorised parties.
"Details of the merger leaked out before the official announcement was made."
“
The story leaked out through unnamed sources within the White House.
— Common phrasing in US political journalism; representative of Washington Post/New York Times reporting style
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To leak (escape through a gap) out (to the outside).
Actually means
Escape through a small hole (liquid), or when a secret is told and people find out.
Usage tip
Used both literally (water, gas, or liquid leaking through a gap) and figuratively (confidential information becoming public). The figurative sense is extremely common in politics, business, and journalism. Often used in the passive for the physical sense: 'Gas had leaked out.'
Words that pair with "leak out"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
information secret details news water gas
How to conjugate "leak out"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
leak out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
leaks out
he/she/it
Past simple
leaked out
yesterday
Past participle
leaked out
have + pp
-ing form
leaking out
continuous
Hear "leak out" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "leak out" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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