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

Raman was able to eke out a win against Pratt in the primary, getting 29% of the vote compared to his 26%, with Bass taking first place at 34%. — Los Angeles Times, 8 Nov. 2026

The former first lady and Senator eked out a slim Electoral College victory thanks to a last-minute campaigning push in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan, while winning the popular vote by over three million ballots. — Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Nov. 2026

While votes shifted toward Democrats, GOP gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds and senate candidate Ashley Moody eked out closer-than-expected victories. — Silas Morgan, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Nov. 2026

In Maryland, a successful amendment supported by Governor Wes Moore seems to have cleared a previously thorny legal path for Democrats to try and eke out an extra seat—a significant victory, especially in light of the amendment’s confusing wording. — Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 5 Nov. 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