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

Sweden’s left-leaning opposition ekes out a razor-thin majority, prompting Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson’s resignation and ushering in uncertain coalition talks in NATO’s newest member state. — Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026

The second-chance Hail Mary led to the incomprehensible scene of the Michigan Stadium crowd storming the field to cheer the winningest program in Bowl Subdivision history eking out a victory over a Mid-American Conference school. — CBS News, 7 Sep. 2026

Stocks eked out a weekly gain on Friday, as traders weighed fresh in-line core inflation reading and blockbuster earnings report from Nvidia against persistent tensions in the Middle East. — Tobias Burns, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2026

Those who live outside eke out a living in different areas run by train gangs. — Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 21 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1596, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for eke out

• roundabout
• runabout
• sauerkraut
• thereabout
• turnabout
• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout

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