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.
The statement said that Patagonia and Pattie Gonia—who uses female pronouns—spent several years hammering out an agreement over the activist’s use of the brand’s name. Frederick Dreier, Outside, 23 Jan. 2026 The agreement, which was hammered out over more than a year, resolves existential questions about TikTok’s future. David McCabe, Chicago Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026 Sundance alums who were fortunate enough to have their films become one of the festival’s hot sales say that the alpine dealmaking, often hammered out late into the evening and through the following morning, are an exhausting, yet exhilarating experience. Brent Lang, Variety, 21 Jan. 2026 Negotiations began late Wednesday night and continued through the week as the team and coach worked to hammer out a deal. The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 17 Jan. 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 28 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

hammer out

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

More from Merriam-Webster on hammer out

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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