hammer out

verb

hammered out; hammering out; hammers out
Synonyms of hammer outnext

transitive verb

: to produce or bring about as if by repeated blows
hammered out an agreement

Examples of hammer out in a Sentence

the city council hammered out new commercial development regulations with input from residents, business owners, and environmental activists
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.
Artificial intelligence, real money When actors and studios arrived at the bargaining table this week to start hammering out the next SAG-AFTRA contract, a key figure in the conversation was not in the room. Rebecca Keegan, NBC news, 13 Feb. 2026 Sources familiar with the discussions between the Bears and state of Illinois officials said both sides have been meeting regularly since early December to hammer out legislation for this spring’s legislative session in Springfield. Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026 The group hammered out details on things like identifying a chain of command for communication with ICE agents, talking through different possible scenarios and sorting through an understanding of judicial warrants and regulations. Beki San Martin, Freep.com, 6 Feb. 2026 As Congress tries to hammer out a compromise to fund the Department of Homeland Security, this source of bipartisan frustration should be central to negotiations. Editorial Board, Washington Post, 5 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hammer out

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1632, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hammer out was circa 1632

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hammer out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hammer%20out. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

hammer out

verb
: to produce or bring about by persistent effort
hammered out an agreement

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