hammer out

British  

verb

1. to shape or remove with or as if with a hammer

2. to form or produce (an agreement, plan, etc) after much discussion or dispute

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hammer out Idioms  

1. Work out with considerable effort, as in It took weeks of negotiations to hammer out an acceptable compromise. This usage likens intellectual effort to shaping metal with the blows of a hammer. [Mid-1700s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

hammer out

The signing will kick off a 60-day period in which Iran and the United States will try to hammer out a full-scale peace deal, including the thorny issue of Iran's nuclear program.

From Barron's ● Jun. 15, 2026

Bonn is where government negotiators meet every June to hammer out technical details and narrow differences over global climate action before leaders tackle the bigger decisions at COP31.

From Barron's ● Jun. 8, 2026

Then everyone got together in a big room to hammer out their disagreements.

From Slate ● Apr. 28, 2026

“My key role was I sat on the phone a lot,” Vance quipped recently to reporters about helping to hammer out a cease-fire.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 11, 2026

“So, I’ve got my mom’s car, and I was wondering if maybe we could do WaHo after school? Then we can hammer out the plans, and I can drive you home afterward.”

From "Leah on the Offbeat" by Becky Albertalli

Related Words

• establish
• negotiate
• settle
• thrash out
• work out