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hammer out meaning and examples

2025-09-12

Meaning

To hammer out means to work hard to reach an agreement, decision, or solution after discussion and negotiation. It often suggests a lot of effort, persistence, and compromise.

Grammar and Usage

  • Part of speech: Phrasal verb

  • Verb type: Transitive (needs an object)

  • Common structure:

    • hammer out + agreement/plan/deal/solution

  • Used in both formal and informal contexts, often in business, diplomacy, or problem-solving situations.

Common Phrases

  • hammer out a deal
  • hammer out an agreement
  • hammer out differences
  • hammer out a plan
  • hammer out a compromise

Collocations

  • Verb + hammer out: try to hammer out, manage to hammer out, negotiate to hammer out
  • Noun + hammer out: hammer out a solution, hammer out a contract
  • Adverb + hammer out: quickly hammer out, finally hammer out, successfully hammer out

Examples

  1. The two companies hammered out a deal after weeks of negotiation.
  2. Diplomats worked late into the night to hammer out an agreement.
  3. We need to hammer out the details before signing the contract.
  4. The committee hammered out a compromise that satisfied both sides.
  5. They spent hours hammering out the final version of the proposal.
  6. The government hopes to hammer out a peace accord.
  7. We finally hammered out a plan that everyone could agree on.
  • negotiate
  • work out
  • settle
  • reach (an agreement)
  • iron out (differences)

Antonym

  • break down (in negotiations)
  • fail to agree
  • fall apart