Pronunciation: [ˈiːk ˈa͡ʊt ɐn ɛɡzˈɪstəns] (IPA) 
Correct spelling for the English word "eke out an existence" is [ˈiːk ˈa͡ʊt ɐn ɛɡzˈɪstəns], [ˈiːk ˈaʊt ɐn ɛɡzˈɪstəns], [ˈiː_k ˈaʊ_t ɐ_n ɛ_ɡ_z_ˈɪ_s_t_ə_n_s] (IPA phonetic alphabet).
To eke out an existence means to barely manage to survive or sustain oneself, often under significant hardships or with very limited resources. The term "eke" originally derives from the Old English word "ēcan," meaning "to increase" or "to extend."
When someone manages to eke out an existence, it implies that they are maintaining a minimal standard of living or subsisting on the bare necessities. They may have to make great efforts or employ various tactics to scrape by financially or acquire the fundamental resources required for survival.
The concept of eking out an existence typically implies a life characterized by difficulty, deprivation, or scarcity. It suggests that the individual in question is living on the edge or in a precarious state, lacking stability or comfort. This could refer to a person struggling financially, lacking job security, or living in impoverished conditions.
Eking out an existence often demands resourcefulness and resilience. People who find themselves in such situations must employ various strategies, take unconventional measures, or work extraordinarily hard to survive. They might take on multiple jobs, live in substandard conditions, rely on charity or assistance from others, or make do with limited means.
Overall, eking out an existence is synonymous with leading a meager or tenuous existence, where the struggle for survival is a constant challenge, and one's necessities are hard-won.
