eke

¹ American  

[eek] / ik /

verb (used with object)

eked, eking

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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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

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

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

Stock market volatility can be grueling on your nerves, but it can also create opportunities to eke out some tax savings.

From Barron's • Mar. 21, 2026

“Abensa eke ubassu inouxi Akyrria,” I said, wondering if she spoke Ayorthaian.

From "Ella Enchanted" by Gail Carson Levine