eke out
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
The old man eked out his pension by selling vegetables from his garden.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
To obtain with difficulty or effort.
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “eke out” mean?
To supplement.
Is “eke out” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.