eke
verb (used with object)
to increase; enlarge; lengthen.
eking
-
present participleof eke.present participle
A verb form that is used in progressive verb constructions and may also function as a modifier or a gerund.
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.
As a young man, Francisco traversed it on horseback, eking out a living by draining resin from the towering pines.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 6, 2026
He was ultimately the only plausible option for voters worried that Hong’s controversies risked blowing the general election and ended up eking it out by less than half a percentage point.
From Slate ● Aug. 12, 2026
Its most traded contracts swung back above $4,300 a troy ounce after eking out a gain in July, ending a series of four monthly declines.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026
Hoan worked from the same slab of concrete for a decade, eking out a modest living hawking colourful bouquets.
From Barron's ● Jun. 2, 2026
Indeed, the process of eking out those new notes took so long that we don’t even know in which century it happened.
From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall
