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eke out
verb
eked out; eking out; ekes out
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
Avon Marching Black & Gold Carmel Marching Greyhounds Castle Marching Knights
Scores from 2024 BOA finals in Indianapolis
Avon took the helm, Carmel eked out a second-place tie and Castle took 9th place.
—Jenny Porter Tilley, The Indianapolis Star, 17 Nov. 2024
His grandfather barely eked out a living from tiny, terraced fields in the drought- and famine-prone hills of China’s northwest Shaanxi province.
—Ann Scott Tyson, The Christian Science Monitor, 8 Nov. 2024
Both were won by incumbent two-term senators who eked out victories even as their party was losing the other marquee contest on the ballot.
—Craig Gilbert, Journal Sentinel, 6 Nov. 2024
The overthrow this summer of Prime Minister Hasina in Bangladesh, who was often criticized by Biden officials, also may have played a role in helping Harris eke out a victory in Hamtramck.
—Niraj Warikoo, Detroit Free Press, 6 Nov. 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1596, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near eke out
Cite this Entry
“Eke out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eke%20out. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
Kids Definition
eke out
verbˈēk-
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
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