eke

¹ American  

[eek] / ik /

verb (used with object)

ekes, present (3rd person singular) eked, past participle, past eking present participle

1. to increase; enlarge; lengthen.

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verb phrase

1. eke out

   1. to make (a living) or support (existence) laboriously.

      They managed to eke out a living by farming a small piece of land.

   2. to supplement; add to; stretch.

      to eke out an income with odd jobs.

eke ² American  

[eek] / ik /

adverb

Archaic.

1. also.

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eke ¹ British  

/ iːk /

verb

1. archaic (tr) to increase, enlarge, or lengthen

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eke ² British  

/ iːk /

1. archaic also; moreover

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Other Word Forms

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have eked
  perfect
• has eked
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have been eking
  perfect progressive
• are eking
  progressive
• is eking
  progressive 3rd person singular
• has been eking
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• ekes
  singular 3rd person
• am eking
  progressive 1st person singular
• eking
  participle

Past

• had eked
  perfect
• had been eking
  perfect progressive
• were eking
  progressive plural
• eked
  simple
• eked
  participle
• was eking
  progressive singular

Future

• will eke
  simple
• will have eked
  perfect
• will be eking
  progressive
• will have been eking
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of eke¹

before 1000; Middle English eken, Old English ēac ( i ) an (intransitive), derivative of ēaca (noun) increase; Middle English echen, Old English ēcan, variant of īecan (transitive) < West Germanic *aukjan; both akin to Old Norse auka, Gothic aukan, Latin augēre, Greek auxánein to increase, amplify

Origin of eke²

before 900; Middle English eek, Old English ēc, ēac; cognate with German auch, Old Norse, Gothic auk

Example Sentences

“Euphoria” “Despite grim reviews for its latest season, ‘Euphoria’ will still eke out a nomination because Zendaya can do no wrong.

From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2026

Shares of Chipotle jumped 6.2% after hours on Wednesday, after the company managed to eke out a surprise same-store sales gain for the first quarter.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 29, 2026

While the world number one could not add to the tally, he largely demonstrated the consistency for which is he famed to eke out a solid, if unspectacular 70.

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026

The economy should eke out a 1.5% growth rate in the first quarter, but will start the April-June quarter “on really bad footing.”

From MarketWatch • Mar. 28, 2026

I shift my hips, trying to eke out more space for myself.

From "You Bring the Distant Near" by Mitali Perkins