make ends meet

phrase

: to make one's means adequate to one's needs

did all they could do to make ends meet

Examples of make ends meet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Some people are going to great lengths to save money and make ends meet, others are thriving and feel kind of guilty about their good fortune. — Sarah Gonzalez, NPR, 9 Sep. 2026

Every week, new households reach out in need, families, seniors and individuals struggling to make ends meet. — Christine Franz, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Sep. 2026

Meanwhile, workers across CSU campuses have rallied at fall convocations over the last few weeks to draw attention to their struggle to make ends meet. — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 2 Sep. 2026

Most of the time the couple has to borrow money from friends or sell some of their belongings to make ends meet. — Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 31 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1815, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for make ends meet

• amit
• athlete
• backseat
• blackfeet
• broadsheet
• browbeat
• buckwheat
• compete
• compleat
• complete
• conceit
• concrete