sweat equity

noun

: equity in a property resulting from labor invested in improvements that increase its value
also : the labor so invested

Examples of sweat equity in a Sentence

He's built up a lot of sweat equity in his house. He put countless hours of sweat equity into that old house.
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.
The same task can be accomplished with a pruning saw and sweat equity. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 1 Mar. 2026 By that point, the project was moving along but still fragile, dependent on the sweat equity of O’Connor than any real resources. — Jimmy Jellinek, SPIN, 7 Apr. 2026 What the program asks of you in return The 200 hours of sweat equity is the part of the program that surprises some applicants. — Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 June 2026 Volunteer Pass The Volunteer Pass requires a bit of sweat equity. — Opheli Garcia Lawler, Travel + Leisure, 13 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sweat equity

Word History

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sweat equity was in 1950

Rhymes for sweat equity

See All Rhymes for sweat equity

Browse Nearby Words

sweated labour
sweat equity
sweater
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sweat equity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sweat%20equity. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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