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.
And the narrative is eking out slowly, defying the notion that contemporary scandals are contained within brief news cycles. Ben Smith, semafor.com, 9 Feb. 2026 Then, in a snowy, icy AFC title game in Denver's Mile High Stadium — one week after Broncos starting QB Bo Nix broke his ankle — the Patriots did just enough against backup QB Jarrett Stidham to eke out a 10-7 win. CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026 Despite shaky landings and some missteps, Glenn fought for the program through-and-through, eking out a landing on her triple axel — the sole woman to attempt the difficult jump in the team competition. Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 8 Feb. 2026 Myki, our last performer, barely ekes out any screentime. Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 7 Feb. 2026 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 15 Feb. 2026.

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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