sweat equity

noun

: equity in a property resulting from labor invested in improvements that increase its value
also : the labor so invested

Examples of sweat equity in a Sentence

He's built up a lot of sweat equity in his house. He put countless hours of sweat equity into that old house.
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.
The American dream is at risk The American dream of buying a house – putting down roots, investing a little sweat equity and watching the nest egg steadily grow – is in peril, reports my colleague Andrea Riquier. Betty Lin-Fisher, USA TODAY, 6 Dec. 2024 To qualify, an applicant must be a first-time homebuyer, meet credit requirements and put sweat equity into building their home or volunteer to help construct other homes Habitat is building in the neighborhood. La Risa R. Lynch, Journal Sentinel, 26 Sep. 2024 One person told me that there's actually a lot of interest in putting in the sweat equity, the work, because the do-it-yourself shows have been so popular, but there's just no money for that for first time buyers. Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 3 Sep. 2024 There are sweat equity hours helping build either the home-owner’s house and another of our applicants’ home. Penny Seater, Orlando Sentinel, 30 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for sweat equity 

Word History

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sweat equity was in 1950

Dictionary Entries Near sweat equity

Cite this Entry

“Sweat equity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sweat%20equity. Accessed 16 Dec. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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