Metabolic adaptation is essential for cell survival during nutrient deprivation. We report that eukaryotic elongation factor 2 kinase (eEF2K), which is activated by AMP-kinase (AMPK), confers cell survival under acute nutrient depletion by blocking translation elongation. Tumor cells exploit this pathway to adapt to nutrient deprivation by reactivating the AMPK-eEF2K axis. Adaptation of transformed cells to nutrient withdrawal is severely compromised in cells lacking eEF2K. Moreover, eEF2K knockdown restored sensitivity to acute nutrient deprivation in highly resistant human tumor cell lines. In vivo, overexpression of eEF2K rendered murine tumors remarkably resistant to caloric restriction. Expression of eEF2K strongly correlated with overall survival in human medulloblastoma and glioblastoma multiforme. Finally, C. elegans strains deficient in efk-1, the eEF2K ortholog, were severely compromised in their response to nutrient depletion. Our data highlight a conserved role for eEF2K in protecting cells from nutrient deprivation and in conferring tumor cell adaptation to metabolic stress. Display omitted Display omitted •eEF2K is required for cell survival under acute nutrient deprivation•AMPK-eEF2K reactivation supports adaptation of transformed cells to nutrient stress•eEF2K expression predicts poor prognosis in aggressive brain tumors•Efk1 (eEF2K ortholog) promotes survival of C. elegans under nutrient deprivation Tumor cells adapt to the stress of nutrient deprivation by increasing the activity of translation elongation factor 2 kinase (eEF2K), which protects cells from apoptosis by inhibiting the elongation step of mRNA translation.