eke out

verb

eked out; eking out; ekes out

transitive verb

1
: to make up for the deficiencies of : supplement
eked out his income by getting a second job
2
: to make (a supply) last by economy

Examples of eke out in a Sentence

eked out a living from the family's small farm
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
If Southampton fail to eke out a point on Saturday in the clash of the doomed, things look decidedly bleak. Tom Burrows, New York Times, 3 May 2025 The Nasdaq, which entered a bear market in early April, managed to eke out a gain of 0.85% across the month. John Towfighi, CNN Money, 30 Apr. 2025 In 2032, a Democrat would need to win the Blue Wall states, Nebraska’s 2nd District, and both Arizona and Nevada to eke out a 276–262 victory. Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 26 Apr. 2025 Eric Adams won his seat at the table by eking out a win in 2021 by a margin of 7,000 votes. Harry Siegel, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for eke out

Word History

First Known Use

1596, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of eke out was in 1596

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Eke out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eke%20out. Accessed 16 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

eke out

verb
ˈēk-
1
a
: supplement entry 2
eked out their small income by working for neighbors
b
: to make (a supply) last by careful use
2
: to get with great difficulty
eked out a living from the poor soil of the family's farm

More from Merriam-Webster on eke out

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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