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eke out
verb
eked out; eking out; ekes out
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
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
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Word History
First Known Use
1596, in the meaning defined at sense 1
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
verbˈēk-
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
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