Cool MateLeak vs Spilling
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Leak
Top 1,000 (very common)C1verb
Spilling
Top 1,000 (very common)
| Leak | Spilling | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/liːk/","/liːks/","/liːkt/","/ˈliːkɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/liːk/","/liːks/","/liːkt/","/ˈliːkɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ˈspɪlɪŋ//🇺🇸 //ˈspɪlɪŋ// |
| Meaning | When a liquid or gas comes out of something that should hold it in. | To let liquid flow out of a container accidentally. |
| Example | The pipe started to leak after the heavy rain caused the ground to shift. | She was so clumsy that she ended up spilling her coffee all over the table. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | badly, slightly, badly, slightly, carefully, deliberately, widely, from, to | spill milk, spill coffee, spill beans, spill blood, spill tea |
| Antonyms | seal, stop, plug | contain, hold, retain |
| 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. | Confused with 'spelled' when referring to letters., Using 'spill' with a non-liquid object., Saying 'spill the water' instead of 'spill water'. |
| Usage notes | Used in various contexts, from appliances to emotions. Avoid using in very formal discussions unless necessary. | Used when liquid is accidentally overflown from a container. Commonly used in casual conversation. Avoid using in formal writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: Leak vs Spilling
What's the difference between Leak and Spilling?
Leak: When a liquid or gas comes out of something that should hold it in. Spilling: To let liquid flow out of a container accidentally.
Can you show an example of each?
Leak: The pipe started to leak after the heavy rain caused the ground to shift. Spilling: She was so clumsy that she ended up spilling her coffee all over the table.
Can I use Leak and Spilling interchangeably?
Not always. Leak and Spilling 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.