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.
Apple's overall business was down 2% for the year, while Samsung eked out a modest 1% growth. Emily Forlini, PCMAG, 14 Jan. 2025 But what used to be one of the great set pieces of the sporting calendar is now spread as thinly as Marmite on a slice of toast, eking out what remains of the competition’s waning relevance across five days. George Caulkin, The Athletic, 8 Jan. 2025 More than 80% of Zimbabwe’s employable population ekes out a living in the informal sector, according to official figures and the International Labor Organization. Farai Mutsaka, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2024 Ultimately, after winning the lead-up to Christmas, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 eked out another $38 million on Christmas weekend, just barely outearning Mufasa: The Lion King at $37.1 million, per Box Office Mojo. Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 30 Dec. 2024 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

Dictionary Entries Near eke out

Cite this Entry

“Eke out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eke%20out. Accessed 22 Jan. 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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