hammer out

verb

hammered out; hammering out; hammers out
Synonyms of hammer outnext

transitive verb

: to produce or bring about as if by repeated blows
hammered out an agreement

Examples of hammer out in a Sentence

the city council hammered out new commercial development regulations with input from residents, business owners, and environmental activists
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.
Behind the scenes, the two had hammered out a deal that allowed Harris a clear path to victory while Newsom ran for governor two years later in 2018. Lia Russell march 26, Sacbee.com, 26 Mar. 2026 For such stories to work, each contradiction has to be hammered out, variables accounted for, and plot holes filled and covered with grass. Tim Brinkhof, Big Think, 24 Mar. 2026 The Senate stayed in session over the weekend to try to hammer out the details, but talks have been paused until Democrats respond to the latest offer from the White House. Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 23 Mar. 2026 However, a binding agreement hammered out with residents more than 20 years ago limits building heights, which would prevent them from adding two stories at Anderson Parking without eliminating the building’s rooftop observatory. Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 22 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hammer out

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1632, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hammer out was circa 1632

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Cite this Entry

“Hammer out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hammer%20out. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

hammer out

verb
: to produce or bring about by persistent effort
hammered out an agreement

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