What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
trickle
Example
Water trickled down the rocks, creating a soothing sound. [trickled: verb]
Example
The company's profits have been trickling down over the past few months. [trickling: present participle]
percolate
Example
I like to percolate my coffee for a stronger flavor. [percolate: verb]
Example
The idea of sustainability has been percolating in the fashion industry for years. [percolating: present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Trickle is more commonly used than percolate in everyday language. Trickle is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while percolate is less common and often used in specific contexts, such as coffee-making or discussing the spread of ideas.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between trickle and percolate?
Both trickle and percolate are relatively neutral in terms of formality and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
