seep

[seep]

verb (used without object)

1. to pass, flow, or ooze gradually through a porous substance.

   Water seeps through cracks in the wall.

2. (of ideas, methods, etc.) to enter or be introduced at a slow pace.

   The new ideas finally seeped down to the lower echelons.

3. to become diffused; permeate.

   Fog seeped through the trees, obliterating everything.

verb (used with object)

1. to cause to seep; filter.

   The vodka is seeped through charcoal to purify it.

noun

1. moisture that seeps out; seepage.

2. a small spring, pool, or other place where liquid from the ground has oozed to the surface of the earth.

seep

/ siːp /

verb

1. (intr) to pass gradually or leak through or as if through small openings; ooze

noun

1. a small spring or place where water, oil, etc, has oozed through the ground

2. another word for seepage

Word History and Origins

Origin of seep¹

1780–90; perhaps variant of dial. sipe, itself perhaps continuing Old English sīpian (cognate with Middle Low German sīpen )

Word History and Origins

Origin of seep¹

Old English sīpian; related to Middle High German sīfen, Swedish dialect sipa

Example Sentences

In that incident, the board’s investigation found multiple safety failures, including a severely eroded safety valve that allowed flammable gases to dangerously seep into unwanted areas.

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The issue is what the uniform represents, and the poorly constrained rage within the man wearing it that it gives agency to seep out.

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The sauce seeped into the bread, leaving fingers gloriously sticky.

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Immigration and Customs Enforcement about the situation and its maintenance staff responded “to mitigate rising water levels outside the facility while paying particular attention to remove any water that seeped into the facility.”

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Retes began hacking and coughing as the gas seeped into his car and federal officers began pounding on his car door.

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Related Words

• bleed 
• drain 
• flow 
• ooze 
• percolate 
• permeate 
• soak 
• trickle