Pronunciation: /ik aʊt/

Definitions of eke out

verb to make a living or support oneself with difficulty

Example Sentences

A1 She tried to eke out a living by selling handmade crafts.

A2 The family had to eke out their food supply during the long winter.

B1 Many people in the village eke out a meager existence by farming the land.

B2 Despite working multiple jobs, he still struggles to eke out a decent living.

C1 The artist managed to eke out a successful career despite facing many challenges.

C2 After years of hard work, she was able to eke out a comfortable retirement for herself.

adverb in a meager or insufficient manner

Example Sentences

A1 She had to eke out a living by working multiple part-time jobs.

A2 The family managed to eke out enough food for the week by rationing their supplies.

B1 Despite the financial difficulties, they were able to eke out a modest existence.

B2 The artist was able to eke out a meager income from selling their paintings.

C1 After years of hard work, he was finally able to eke out a comfortable retirement.

C2 She continued to eke out a living as a freelance writer, despite the challenges of the industry.

Examples of eke out in a Sentence

formal The small business was able to eke out a profit in its first year of operation.

informal I had to eke out my allowance to make it last until the end of the month.

slang He's always trying to eke out some extra cash by selling old stuff online.

figurative She managed to eke out a smile despite feeling sad inside.

Grammatical Forms of eke out

past tense

eked out

plural

eke out

comparative

more eke out

superlative

most eke out

present tense

ekes out

future tense

will eke out

perfect tense

has eked out

continuous tense

is eking out

singular

ekes out

positive degree

eke out

infinitive

to eke out

gerund

eking out

participle

eked out

Origin and Evolution of eke out

First Known Use: 1250 year
Language of Origin: Old English
Story behind the word: The phrase 'eke out' originated from the Old English word 'ēcan' meaning to increase or add to.
Evolution of the word: Over time, the phrase 'eke out' evolved to mean to make something last longer by using it frugally or to supplement an inadequate supply with great effort.