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

Just over a decade ago, Fijian director Tulia Nacola was eking out a living as a carpenter. —Michelle Duff, HollywoodReporter, 27 Apr. 2026

Jennings eked out his City Hall victory in 2014 over Sacramento’s former fire chief with just 54 votes, in part by aligning himself with then-Mayor Kevin Johnson. —Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 24 Apr. 2026

But at the bottom of a nearby hill, there is also a patch of woods that runs along an old railroad, just large enough, apparently, for a coyote to eke out a living. —Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 21 Apr. 2026

The Royals clung to a one-run lead in the eighth inning, the Tigers having eked out just two hits through seven. —Kansas City Star, 15 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1596, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for eke out

• roundabout
• runabout
• sauerkraut
• thereabout
• turnabout
• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout

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