seep
B2Neutral (used in both formal and informal contexts)
Definition
Meaning
(of a liquid, gas, or light) to flow or pass slowly and gradually through small openings or pores.
To become known or spread slowly and subtly; to leak out gradually (information, emotions, influence).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily intransitive. Implies a slow, often undesirable, gradual movement or escape. Often used with prepositions like 'into', 'through', 'from', 'out of'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage.
Connotations
Slightly more common in environmental/geological contexts (e.g., water seeping). Neutral connotation in both varieties.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in both UK and US English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Water seeped through the cracked ceiling.Rainwater seeped into the basement.Details of the scandal began to seep out.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The penny dropped (idiom for sudden understanding, not seep)”
- “None directly with 'seep'; concept appears in phrases like 'seep into the public consciousness'.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Concerns about the economy are beginning to seep into consumer confidence.
Academic
Groundwater can seep through porous rock layers, a process known as infiltration.
Everyday
I need to fix that tap; water is seeping out and making a puddle.
Technical
Chemicals from the landfill site are seeping into the local aquifer.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The damp is seeping up the walls from the cellar.
- A sense of dread began to seep into the room.
American English
- Oil was seeping from the old engine onto the garage floor.
- News of the layoffs slowly seeped through the company.
adverb
British English
- N/A. The related adverb is 'seepingly' (extremely rare).
American English
- N/A. The related adverb is 'seepingly' (extremely rare).
adjective
British English
- N/A. The adjectival form is 'seeping' (e.g., a seeping wound).
American English
- N/A. The adjectival form is 'seeping' (e.g., a seeping pipe).
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Water seeped through the roof.
- The colour seeped from the red shirt in the wash.
- Cold air seeped in through the gaps around the window.
- The ink seeped through the thin paper.
- A feeling of optimism began to seep back into the team after their first win.
- Toxic waste could seep into the water supply if not contained.
- Over the years, Western cultural norms have seeped into the fabric of the society.
- The implications of the new data are only now seeping into the scientific community's discourse.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a SEEPy pipe – you SEE a Puddle forming slowly from a small leak.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIQUID MOVEMENT FOR THE SPREAD OF ABSTRACT THINGS (e.g., knowledge seeps, despair seeps).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'сипеть' (to wheeze).
- Closer to 'просачиваться', 'сочиться', not 'течь' (which is a broader 'flow').
- Avoid using for rapid leaks or spills.
Common Mistakes
- Using it transitively without a preposition (*'The pipe seeped water'). Correct: 'Water seeped from the pipe.'
- Confusing with 'seep' as a noun (rare; 'seepage' is the standard noun).
- Using for intentional pouring.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best describes the typical action of 'seep'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily, but it is commonly used metaphorically for light, information, feelings, or influence (e.g., 'Sunlight seeped through the blinds', 'The secret seeped out').
'Leak' often implies a defect or unintended escape, possibly faster. 'Trickle' suggests a small, thin stream. 'Seep' emphasizes slow, gradual penetration through a porous material or into a broader area.
Rarely. The standard noun form is 'seepage' (e.g., 'oil seepage'). 'Seep' as a noun is technical, often for a place where liquid seeps out of the ground.
It is neutral. It is appropriate in both everyday speech and formal/academic writing (especially in geology, engineering, environmental science).