eke out
Britishverb
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to make (a supply) last, esp by frugal use
they eked out what little food was left
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to support (existence) with difficulty and effort
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to add to (something insufficient), esp with effort
to eke out an income with evening work
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Supplement, make last, as in The survivors eked out their food and water until they were rescued . [Late 1500s]
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Get with great difficulty or effort, as in The soil was terrible but they managed to eke out a living by rotating crops . [Early 1800s]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
I still think Scotland will eke out the win, but how will Steve Clarke go about it?
From BBC ● Jun. 10, 2026
“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
Kudryashev’s short stint last year in the vanguard of Russia’s army offers a glimpse of the tactics that Russia is employing to eke out battlefield advances in Ukraine.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 12, 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
If I worked like a dog for the remainder of the term I might be able to earn enough to eke out my interest to Devi and tuition as well.
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
