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

On Tuesday, the Gators faced their biggest rival, Florida State, and eked out a 78-76 victory to move to 2-1 on the season. —Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Nov. 2025

In one of the many tributaries of the great Yukon River in Alaska, this couple eked out a precarious living fishing for salmon while hoping to find gold. —David McWilliams, Fortune, 16 Nov. 2025

But the loss of black members of Congress highlights the tension Democrats face between preserving majority-minority seats and eking out more favorable districts. —Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 13 Nov. 2025

The governor, a potential 2028 presidential contender, has been burnishing his national image after winning a decisive victory last week with his Proposition 50 campaign, which redrew California’s congressional districts to eke out another five Democratic House seats. —Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 10 Nov. 2025

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