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.
That research has shed light on existential threats facing the big cats eking out an existence in an increasingly urbanized landscape. Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2025 More enticing are the songs angling to eke out an insistent literary voice and an impactful but playful sonic imprint. Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 6 June 2025 Only three of the Magnificent Seven stocks — all of which have a finger in the AI pie — are positive this year, with Nvidia eking out a tiny 0.07% gain year to date. Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 21 May 2025 One of those senators, Raphael Warnock, eked out a re-election victory in a runoff in 2022. Rick Rojas, New York Times, 20 May 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 1 Jul. 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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