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Prepositions after verbs

Leak to vs leak from

Leak from identifies the source of escaping liquid or information. Leak to identifies the receiver of secret information.

Quick answer

Main difference

Use leak from for the source of a liquid, gas, or information. Use leak to for the person or organization receiving confidential information.

Water leaked from the pipe.
The report leaked to the press.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
leak from + source

Showing where something escapes

Leak from identifies the origin.

Smoke leaked from the engine.
2
leak to + receiver

Giving secret information

Leak to identifies who received confidential material.

Details were leaked to journalists.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
leak from
Oil leaked from the tank.
escape from a source
leak to
The memo leaked to the media.
reach a receiver secretly
leak into
Gas leaked into the room.
move into an area

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Confusing source and receiver

From marks the source; to marks the receiver.

✕ The files leaked from reporters. ✓ The files leaked to reporters.

Using to for physical sources

Physical leaks normally use from.

✕ Water leaked to the pipe. ✓ Water leaked from the pipe.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. Information leaked ___ the newspapers.
2. Gas leaked ___ the container.
3. Paint leaked ___ the floor.

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Frequently asked questions

Can leak be transitive?

Yes. Someone can leak information intentionally.

Is leak to only for information?

Mostly yes. It commonly refers to confidential information.

Can I say leak into?

Yes. Leak into describes movement into an area or substance.

label, as, label, with lag behind, in, from, on or by? "land on" or "land in"? languish in, at, on, for or near? last for, from, until, in or through? "latch onto" or "latch on"? laugh at, with, about, in or for? launch in, by, on, at or into? "lay on" or "lay in"? lead to, by, up, in or from? lean on, towards, against, toward or to? "leap to", "leap into" or "leap from"?

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