EKE OUT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does eke out mean? 

• EKE OUT (verb)
  The verb EKE OUT has 4 senses:

1. supplement what is thought to be deficient

2. live from day to day, as with some hardship

3. make by laborious and precarious means

4. obtain with difficulty

  Familiarity information: EKE OUT used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• EKE OUT (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Supplement what is thought to be deficient

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Synonyms:

eke out; fill out

Context example:

Braque eked out his collages with charcoal

Hypernyms (to "eke out" is one way to...):

supplement (add as a supplement to what seems insufficient)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Live from day to day, as with some hardship

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Context example:

He eked out his years in great poverty

Hypernyms (to "eke out" is one way to...):

live (lead a certain kind of life; live in a certain style)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 3

Meaning:

Make by laborious and precarious means

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Synonyms:

eke out; squeeze out

Context example:

He eked out a living as a painter

Hypernyms (to "eke out" is one way to...):

bring in; clear; earn; gain; make; pull in; realise; realize; take in (earn on some commercial or business transaction; earn as salary or wages)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 4

Meaning:

Obtain with difficulty

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Synonyms:

eke out; squeeze out

Context example:

He eked out some information from the archives

Hypernyms (to "eke out" is one way to...):

obtain (come into possession of)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s PP

 Context examples 

The three dollars he received for the triolets he used to eke out a precarious existence against the arrival of the White Mouse check.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)