eke out meaning and definition

EKE OUT verb

Definition of eke out (verb)

1. supplement what is thought to be deficient
   • "He eked out his meager pay by giving private lessons"; "Braque eked out his collages with charcoal"
   • synonyms: fill out
2. live from day to day, as with some hardship
   • "He eked out his years in great poverty"
3. make by laborious and precarious means
   • "He eked out a living as a painter"
   • synonyms: squeeze out
4. obtain with difficulty
   • "He eked out some information from the archives"
   • synonyms: squeeze out