What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
bleed
Example
She cut her finger and it started to bleed. [bleed: verb]
Example
The patient experienced heavy bleeding after the surgery. [bleeding: noun]
seep
Example
Water seeped through the cracks in the wall during the rainstorm. [seep: verb]
Example
There was a seepage of oil from the damaged pipeline. [seepage: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Bleed is more commonly used than seep in everyday language, especially in medical or injury-related contexts. Seep is less common and tends to be used in specific situations where the slow movement of a liquid is being described.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between bleed and seep?
Both bleed and seep are generally considered informal words. However, bleed may be more commonly used in formal medical or scientific contexts, while seep can be used in both formal and informal situations when describing the movement of liquids.
