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.
Wall Street is coming off a positive session, with stocks eking out a gain Monday even after President Donald Trump threatened a 30% tariff on the European Union and Mexico starting Aug. 1. Pia Singh,sarah Min, CNBC, 14 July 2025 This location is home to both a rogue’s gallery of mutants and the titular stalkers who eke out a living scavenging artifacts. Lewis Gordon, Vulture, 9 July 2025 So far this week, the Stampeders have defeated the Blue Bombers 37-16, the Tiger-Cats beat the Argonauts in a thrilling 51-38 contest, and the Lions eked out a 21-20 win over the Alouettes. Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 July 2025 The absence of large numbers of migrants might prove temporary, said Martinez, a Democrat who eked out a narrow victory in November. Alfredo Corchado, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 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 21 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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