___ out (scrape together)

Latest answer — September 02, 2026

9 Down

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Clue explained

In the phrase “eke out,” eke means to obtain or make something last with difficulty, as when someone scrapes together enough resources.

Clue type:
Phrase or idiom
A person gathering a small amount of money to cover expenses

USA Today Crossword

This clue's Wednesday, September 02, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 1Parent company of Facebook
  2. 5Confuse
  3. 10Spanish equivalent of Mrs.
  4. 13Change, like the Constitution
  5. 15Sound similar to "ribbit"
  6. 16Unit of weight for a walrus
  7. 17Shutterfly upload
  8. 18Hidden message in a movie or video game
  9. 20Challenge from a defiant person
  10. 22"Golly!"
  11. 23Magnum ___ (masterpiece)
  12. 24State-run numbers game
  13. 26Fragrant packet in a dresser drawer
  14. 28Hospital test that makes banging noises
  15. 30Disapproving sound
  16. 31Planet's natural satellite
  17. 32Heathrow and O'Hare, for two
  18. 34Home to Nairobi National Park
  19. 38Russians and Serbs
  20. 40Some people call it soda
  21. 41Hefty dark beer
  22. 42Core belief
  23. 43Perky parts of donkeys
  24. 45Part for an actor
  25. 46Took a load off
  26. 48Sweet bun with dried fruit
  27. 50Meditative chant
  28. 53The Holy Lance, for one
  29. 54Potatoes, in Indian dishes
  30. 55Bleating sound
  31. 57"Play another one!"
  32. 61Parts of plotlines
  33. 64Marine organism composed of polyps
  34. 65Soda can feature
  35. 66Change a little
  36. 67Party throwers
  37. 68Last year's jrs.
  38. 69In disarray
  39. 70A clown's is usually red

Down

  1. 1Hurt badly
  2. 2Stone with two Oscars
  3. 3Tropical hardwood
  4. 4Person who funds a startup
  5. 5Card that can be high or low
  6. 6Team paddling competitions at some Chinese festivals
  7. 7Prescribed amount
  8. 8Most recent
  9. 9___ out (scrape together)
  10. 10Curry who was the NBA's first unanimous MVP
  11. 11Go ___ (disobey orders)
  12. 12Feeling of deep unease
  13. 14Early cuts of songs
  14. 19Furry, sharp-tongued Guardian of the Galaxy
  15. 21Engrave with acid
  16. 25Grayish-brown color
  17. 27Seeks permission
  18. 28Lawn-burrowing mammal
  19. 29"Femininomenon" singer Chappell
  20. 31Winter hrs. in Cheyenne
  21. 33Shopping splurge
  22. 35Comfy corner
  23. 36Norse celebration of winter solstice
  24. 37Enjoyed a gyro
  25. 39Symbol on Turkey's flag
  26. 44Discount event
  27. 47Food in a corn husk
  28. 49Easy task
  29. 50Sail holders
  30. 51Spot to say "I do"
  31. 52Rookie gamers
  32. 56Opera and sculpture, e.g.
  33. 58Roughly
  34. 59"Darn it!"
  35. 60Otherwise
  36. 62Tuber in "Things Fall Apart"
  37. 63"my bad lol"

The answer to “___ out (scrape together)” in the USA Today crossword is EKE — a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the USA Today crossword on September 2, 2026, a Wednesday puzzle, at 9-Down. Below you'll find why that fill fits, every other answer we've recorded for this clue, and links into the puzzle it came from.

“___ out (scrape together)” answer

EKE (3 letters)

Reveal the solution one letter at a time with the tiles above if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Just want it outright? The answer is EKE.

What does EKE mean?

Reading the plain dictionary sense of EKE is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.

(verb)

  • make an amount or supply of something last longer by using or consuming it frugally

When else has “___ out (scrape together)” appeared?

USA Today reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up, and what the answer was each time — handy when you're checking whether today's fill is the only one.

September 2, 2026 (most recent) → EKE. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “___ out (scrape together)”?

The answer is EKE, a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the USA Today crossword on September 2, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “___ out (scrape together)”?

3 letters: EKE.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the USA Today crossword on September 2, 2026 (a Wednesday puzzle), at 9-Down.

Can “___ out (scrape together)” have a different answer?

Yes — USA Today sometimes reuses a clue with a different solution to fit the grid. The answers we've recorded for each date it appeared are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of this day's USA Today answers?

The full grid for September 2, 2026 is on the USA Today answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

USA Today Crossword is published by USA Today; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.

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