hammer out

verb

hammered out; hammering out; hammers out
Synonyms of hammer outnext

transitive verb

: to produce or bring about as if by repeated blows
hammered out an agreement

Synonyms of hammer out

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Examples of hammer out in a Sentence

the city council hammered out new commercial development regulations with input from residents, business owners, and environmental activists
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Fox is the first NFL partner to publicly assert a lack of interest in hammering out an early revision of its existing media contract. — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 6 Aug. 2026 In April, Williams hammered out a two-year extension that pushed off retirement talk and let the 49ers focus elsewhere in the draft instead of splurging on a replacement. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2026 Israeli and Lebanese negotiating teams are set to meet again there to continue hammering out a plan under which Israel would withdraw from southern Lebanon in exchange for Hezbollah’s disarmament. — ABC News, 1 Aug. 2026 In theory, that would leave upwards of 50 days, not including weekends, to hammer out a budget. — Drew Pittock, USA Today, 23 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for hammer out

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1632, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hammer out was circa 1632

Rhymes for hammer out

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Browse Nearby Words

hammer mill
hammer out
hammer oyster
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Cite this Entry

“Hammer out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hammer%20out. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

hammer out

verb
: to produce or bring about by persistent effort
hammered out an agreement

More from Merriam-Webster on hammer out

Nglish: Translation of hammer out for Spanish Speakers

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