score

1 of 2

noun

plural scores
1
or plural score
a
: twenty
b
: a group of 20 things
often used in combination with a cardinal number
fourscore
c
: an indefinitely large number
2
a
: a line (such as a scratch or incision) made with or as if with a sharp instrument
b(1)
: a mark used as a starting point or goal
(2)
: a mark used for keeping account
3
a
: an account or reckoning originally kept by making marks on a tally
b
: amount due : indebtedness
4
: grudge
a score to settle
5
a
: reason, ground
was accepted on the score of high academic achievement
b
: subject, topic
has nothing to say on that score
6
a
: the copy of a musical composition in written or printed notation
b
: a musical composition
specifically : the music for a movie or theatrical production
c
: a complete description of a dance composition in choreographic notation
7
a
: a number that expresses accomplishment (as in a game or test) or excellence (as in quality) either absolutely in points gained or by comparison to a standard
b
: an act (such as a goal, run, or touchdown) in any of various games or contests that gains points
8
: success in obtaining something (such as money or drugs) especially through illegal or irregular means
9
: the stark inescapable facts of a situation
knows the score

score

2 of 2

verb

scored; scoring

transitive verb

1
a
: to keep a record or account of by or as if by notches on a tally : record
b
: to enter in a record
c
: to mark with significant lines or notches (as in keeping account)
2
: to mark with lines, grooves, scratches, or notches
3
: berate, scold
also : denounce
4
a(1)
: to make (a score) in a game or contest
scored a touchdown
scored three points
(2)
: to enable (a base runner) to make a score
(3)
: to have as a value in a game or contest : count
a touchdown scores six points
b(1)
: achieve, attain
scored a dazzling success
(2)
: acquire
help a traveler score local drugsPoitor Koper
(3)
: win sense 1
scored free tickets over the radio
5
: to determine the merit of : grade
6
a
: to write or arrange (music) for a specific performance medium
b
: to make an orchestration of
c
: to compose a score for (a movie)

intransitive verb

1
: to keep score in a game or contest
2
: to make a score in a game or contest
3
a
: to gain or have the advantage
b
: to be successful: such as
(1)
: to succeed in having sexual intercourse
(2)
: to manage to obtain illicit drugs
scorer noun
Phrases
score points
: to gain favor, status, or advantage

Examples of score in a Sentence

Noun students with low test scores The film's score is by a famous composer. Verb She scored twice in the game. Each correct answer scores two points. In American football, a touchdown scores six points. Who's going to score the game? Judges will score the performances based on their artistic and technical features. Which judges are scoring tonight?
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Cleveland point guard Darius Garland converted the resulting technical free throw to knot the score up at 97 and send the game into OT. Sam Joseph, CNN, 11 Mar. 2024 Three more Northfield buckets later, the score is 39-29 at halftime and the Nighthawks crowd is back in this. Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 11 Mar. 2024 Interestingly, there are no drums or percussion in the score. Chris Willman, Variety, 11 Mar. 2024 Together, these scores showed the spectacular variety of Schoenberg’s language. Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024 Göransson explains that typically, a director uses something called a temp score when making the first cut of the film and then incorporates the original score at the end of editing. Krystie Lee Yandoli, Rolling Stone, 10 Mar. 2024 Gonzalez desired a different narrative to accompany the score, one with a lot of visual impact. Marcia Luttrell, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2024 With the score knotted at 59-all in the final seconds of a back-and-forth regulation, a flurry of Watkins attacks was thwarted by UCLA stalwart center Lauren Betts and forward Angela Dugalic and Bruins guard Londynn Jones streaked to the rim for what could have been a game-closing layup. Luca Evans, Orange County Register, 9 Mar. 2024 There are the same intense close-ups of grizzly sweating faces, florid musical score and blazing credits that characterized the Italian master’s spaghetti Westerns. Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Feb. 2024
Verb
Here's a list of famous celebrities scheduled to appear at the convention and how to score their autograph. The Indianapolis Star, 12 Mar. 2024 The Islanders scored three times in the first period, including Palmieri on a breakaway 7:28 into the game. Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2024 Both teams have struggled to score, combining to shoot 2 for 10 from the floor. Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 11 Mar. 2024 All fans have to do to score the freebie is wear green when visiting the store between March 15 and March 17. Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 11 Mar. 2024 Durant scored 45 points, to go with 10 rebounds and six assists in the loss. Thomas Schlachter, CNN, 10 Mar. 2024 Santa Clara’s Adama Bal scored a team-high 16 points in the first half alone, scoring half his points on free throws. Ryan Finley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2024 For most of her adult life, Warren has provided support to individuals and organizations seeking to score victories in a variety of endeavors. Scott Talley, Detroit Free Press, 10 Mar. 2024 The Jaguars were ranked fifth in the league and players scored their locker room, training room and weight room an A- or higher. George Ramsay, CNN, 29 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'score.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English scor, from Old Norse skor notch, tally, twenty; akin to Old English scieran to cut — more at shear

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of score was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near score

Cite this Entry

“Score.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/score. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

score

1 of 2 noun
ˈskō(ə)r How to pronounce score (audio)
ˈskȯ(ə)r
plural scores
1
or plural score
a
: twenty
b
: a group of 20 things
often used in combination with a cardinal number
fivescore
2
: a line made with or as if with a sharp instrument
3
: a duty or injury kept in mind for later action
had some old scores to settle
4
: reason entry 1 sense 1b, ground
you have nothing to worry about on that score
5
: the complete written music showing all of the individual parts of a large piece (as a symphony)
6
a
: a number expressing accomplishment (as in a game or a test) or worth (as of a product)
had a score of 80 out of a possible 100
b
: a record of points made by competing teams or players
the final score was 4–3
c
: an act (as a goal, run, or touchdown) that gains points in any of various games or contests
7
: the facts of a situation
we won't know what the score is until the laboratory results are in
scoreless
-ləs
adjective

score

2 of 2 verb
scored; scoring
1
a
: to set down in an account : record
b
: to keep score in a game or contest
2
: to mark with lines, grooves, scratches, or notches
3
4
a
: to make or cause to make a score in or as if in a game : tally
score a run
b
: achieve sense 2, win
scored a big success
5
6
: to arrange (a musical composition) for performance
scorer noun

More from Merriam-Webster on score

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