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.
Wins like last night, eked out against an exceptionally sharp Jack Flaherty, are precious. Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Apr. 2025 After Trump appointed 234 federal judges during his first term, Biden eked out just ahead by appointing 235, making diversity a priority in the process. Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 16 Apr. 2025 Villanova eked out a 60-59 win over USC in the quarterfinals. John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Apr. 2025 In late January, Duke men’s basketball eked out a seven-point victory at Wake Forest. Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 13 Mar. 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 29 Apr. 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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