eke
verb (used with object)
to increase; enlarge; lengthen.
ekes
-
present tense formof eke (3rd person singular).present tense
Used to describe things happening now or regularly.
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.
Lori, who might be every bit as technically gifted as Julian, ekes out a living serving egg rolls in a food truck while sharing a walk-up loft with three other struggling painters.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 9, 2026
Oumar Cisse used to lead tours of Djenne, an ancient, fabled city in central Mali known for its towering mud-brick mosque, but he now ekes out a living driving an old motorcycle taxi in Bamako.
From Barron's ● Jan. 29, 2026
In the battle of Barbenheimer, Gerwig’s comedy ekes out a victory over “Oppenheimer,” proving that some fights can be finished with no nuclear escalation whatsoever.
From New York Times ● Aug. 2, 2023
Today the 70-year-old struggles with respiratory illness and ekes out a living ferrying people and parcels on his scooter.
From Reuters ● Dec. 16, 2022
She lives alone, and ekes out a living by taking in washing.
From Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves Georgia Narratives, Part 2 by Work Projects Administration
