seeped; seeping; seeps
Synonyms of seep

intransitive verb

1
: to flow or pass slowly through fine pores or small openings : ooze
water seeped in through a crack
2
a
: to enter or penetrate slowly
… fear of nuclear war had seeped into the national consciousness.Tip O'Neill
b
: to become diffused or spread
… a sadness seeped through his being.Agnes S. Turnbull

seep

2 of 3

noun

1
a
: a spot where a fluid (such as water, oil, or gas) contained in the ground oozes slowly to the surface and often forms a pool
b
: a small spring
2
-er/-est
: full of moisture : poorly drained : oozy

Examples of seep in a Sentence

Verb Blood was seeping through the bandage. The chemicals seeped into the ground.
Recent Examples on the Web
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Verb
Staff quietly hurried to tape falling signage to the walls, troubleshoot the jumbotron and cook burgers and hot dogs as rain seeped through the grated ceilings of the exterior walkways. Jaclyn Licht, NPR, 8 Aug. 2026 The gleeful melodies of the church choir practicing next door seeped in. Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 8 Aug. 2026
Noun
The best examples of this seep with tradition, skill and look too good to eat. Bianca Betancourt, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026 In some parts of Hwange, natural seeps and seasonal watering holes provide supplementary water, while Wilderness helps pump water to artificial watering holes in the southeastern region of the park. Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 28 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for seep

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Adjective

alteration of earlier sipe, from Middle English sipen, from Old English sipian; akin to Middle Low German sipen to seep

First Known Use

Verb

1790, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1824, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of seep was in 1790

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Seep.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/seep. Accessed 12 Aug. 2026.

Kids Definition

seep

verb
ˈsēp
: to flow or pass slowly through small openings : ooze

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