Cool MateLeak vs Spills
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Leak
Top 1,000 (very common)C1verb
Spills
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Leak
| Leak | Spills | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/liːk/","/liːks/","/liːkt/","/ˈliːkɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/liːk/","/liːks/","/liːkt/","/ˈliːkɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //spɪlz//🇺🇸 //spɪlz// |
| Meaning | When a liquid or gas comes out of something that should hold it in. | When a liquid accidentally flows out of its container. |
| Example | The pipe started to leak after the heavy rain caused the ground to shift. | She accidentally spills coffee all over her notebook. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | badly, slightly, badly, slightly, carefully, deliberately, widely, from, to | spill the beans, spill coffee, spill blood, spill over, spill your drink |
| Antonyms | seal, stop, plug | contains, holds, retains |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'leech' which means to drain resources., Using 'leak' in situations where 'spillage' would be more appropriate., Omitting the object when saying something has leaked. | Confusing 'spill' with 'split' meaning to divide., Using 'spills' for solid substances instead of liquids., Saying 'spilling' instead of 'spills' in present tense. |
| Usage notes | Used in various contexts, from appliances to emotions. Avoid using in very formal discussions unless necessary. | Use 'spills' when referring to liquid accidentally flowing out. It's not appropriate for non-liquid substances. Both formal and informal contexts are acceptable. |
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Frequently asked questions: Leak vs Spills
What's the difference between Leak and Spills?
Leak: When a liquid or gas comes out of something that should hold it in. Spills: When a liquid accidentally flows out of its container.
Which is more common: Leak and Spills?
Leak is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Leak: The pipe started to leak after the heavy rain caused the ground to shift. Spills: She accidentally spills coffee all over her notebook.
Can I use Leak and Spills interchangeably?
Not always. Leak and Spills are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.