Score Definition and Meaning
By Maham Liaqat & Urooj Arif — Published on March 8, 2024
Score refers to a numerical expression of a person's performance in a game or test, or to the act of winning points in a game. e.g., She achieved a high score on her SATs.
Table of Contents
Score Definitions
The number of points earned by a player or team in a game.
The final score of the game was 30-24.
To make a notch, scratch, or incision.
He used a knife to score the wood for his art project.
To evaluate or rate something.
The judge will score each performance based on creativity and skill.
A group or set of twenty items.
The farmer sold a score of eggs at the market.
To achieve a goal or point in a sport.
She scored the winning goal in the final minute of the match.
A written representation of music.
The conductor studied the score before the concert.
To succeed in securing something desired.
She managed to score front-row tickets to the concert.
In film or theater, the music accompanying a production.
The movie's score was both haunting and beautiful.
To keep record of points or tallies in a game.
He volunteered to score during the basketball game.
To make a cut or line in something.
The chef scored the duck skin before roasting it.
A usually numerical record of a competitive event
Keeping score.
The total number of points made by each competitor or side in a contest, either final or at a given stage
The score stood tied in the bottom of the ninth inning.
The number of points attributed to a competitor or team.
A result, usually expressed numerically, of a test or examination.
An amount due; a debt.
A grievance that is harbored and requires satisfaction
Settle an old score.
A ground; a reason
You have nothing to worry about on that score.
A group of 20 items.
Scores Large numbers
Scores of people attended the rally.
The notation of a musical work.
The written form of a composition for orchestral or vocal parts.
The music written for a film or a play.
The act of securing an advantage, especially a surprising or significant gain
"He had dropped out of school and gone for that quick dollar, that big score" (Peter Goldman).
The act or an instance of buying illicit drugs.
A successful robbery.
A notch or incision, especially one that is made to keep a tally.
To achieve or accomplish
Scored a success in the play.
To achieve or gain in a game or contest
Score a touchdown.
To count or be worth as points
A basket scores two points.
To keep a written record of the score or events of (a game or contest).
(Baseball) To cause (a base runner) to cross home plate, especially by getting a hit
Scored both runners with a double.
To evaluate and assign a grade to
Score a test.
To orchestrate (a piece of music).
To arrange for a specific instrument.
To criticize cuttingly; berate.
To succeed in acquiring
Scored two tickets to the play.
To succeed in obtaining (an illicit drug)
"Aging punks try to impress her with tales of ... the different drugs they've scored" (Art Jahnke).
To mark (a piece of paper or wood, for example) with lines or notches, especially for the purpose of keeping a record.
To cancel or eliminate by superimposing lines.
To mark the surface of (meat, for example) with usually parallel cuts.
To make a point or points in a game or contest.
To record the score or progress of a game or contest.
To achieve a purpose or advantage, especially to make a surprising gain or coup
"They ... score in places like the bond market" (Mike Barnicle).
To succeed in buying or obtaining an illicit drug.
The total number of goals, points, runs, etc. earned by a participant in a game.
The player with the highest score is the winner.
The number of points accrued by each of the participants in a game, expressed as a ratio or a series of numbers.
The score is 8-1 even though it's not even half-time!
The performance of an individual or group on an examination or test, expressed by a number, letter, or other symbol; a grade.
The test scores for this class were high.
Twenty, 20.
Some words have scores of meanings.
(gambling) An amount of money won in gambling; winnings.
A distance of twenty yards, in ancient archery and gunnery.
A weight of twenty pounds.
(music) The written form of a musical composition showing all instrumental and vocal parts.
(music) The music of a movie or play.
Subject.
Account; reason; motive; sake; behalf.
A notch or incision; especially, one that is made as a tally mark; hence, a mark, or line, made for the purpose of account.
An account or reckoning; account of dues; bill; debt.
A criminal act, especially:
A robbery.
Let's pull a score!
A bribe paid to a police officer.
An illegal sale, especially of drugs.
He made a big score.
A prostitute's client.
In the Lowestoft area, a narrow pathway running down a cliff to the beach.
(transitive) To cut a notch or a groove in a surface.
The baker scored the cake so that the servers would know where to slice it.
(intransitive) To record the tally of points for a game, a match, or an examination.
(ambitransitive) To obtain something desired.
To earn points in a game.
It is unusual for a team to score a hundred goals in one game.
Pelé scores again!
To achieve (a score) in e.g. a test.
(gambling) To win money by gambling.
(slang) To acquire or gain.
I scored some drugs last night.
Did you score tickets for the concert?
To extract a bribe.
(transitive) To provide (a film, etc.) with a musical score.
Acknowledgement of success
A notch or incision; especially, one that is made as a tally mark; hence, a mark, or line, made for the purpose of account.
Whereas, before, our forefathers had no other books but the score and the tally, thou hast caused printing to be used.
An account or reckoning; account of dues; bill; hence, indebtedness.
He parted well, and paid his score.
Account; reason; motive; sake; behalf.
But left the trade, as many moreHave lately done on the same score.
You act your kindness in Cydaria's score.
The number twenty, as being marked off by a special score or tally; hence, in pl., a large number.
Amongst three or four score hogsheads.
At length the queen took upon herself to grant patents of monopoly by scores.
A distance of twenty yards; - a term used in ancient archery and gunnery.
A weight of twenty pounds.
The number of points gained by the contestants, or either of them, in any game, as in cards or cricket.
A line drawn; a groove or furrow.
The original and entire draught, or its transcript, of a composition, with the parts for all the different instruments or voices written on staves one above another, so that they can be read at a glance; - so called from the bar, which, in its early use, was drawn through all the parts.
The grade received on an examination, such as those given in school or as a qualifying examination for a job or admission to school; - it may be expressed as a percentage of answers which are correct, or as a number or letter; as, a score of 98 in a civil service exam.
Does not the earth quit scores with all the elements in the noble fruits that issue from it?
To mark with lines, scratches, or notches; to cut notches or furrows in; to notch; to scratch; to furrow; as, to score timber for hewing; to score the back with a lash.
Let us score their backs.
A briar in that tangled wildernessHad scored her white right hand.
Especially, to mark with significant lines or notches, for indicating or keeping account of something; as, to score a tally.
To mark or signify by lines or notches; to keep record or account of; to set down; to record; to charge.
Madam, I know when,Instead of five, you scored me ten.
Nor need I tallies thy dear love to score.
To engrave, as upon a shield.
To make a score of, as points, runs, etc., in a game.
To mark with parallel lines or scratches; as, the rocks of New England and the Western States were scored in the drift epoch.
To keep the score in a game; to act as scorer.
To make or count a point or points, as in a game; to tally.
To run up a score, or account of dues.
To purchase drugs illegally.
A number or letter indicating quality (especially of a student's performance);
She made good marks in algebra
Grade A milk
What was your score on your homework?
A written form of a musical composition; parts for different instruments appear on separate staves on large pages;
He studied the score of the sonata
A number that expresses the accomplishment of a team or an individual in a game or contest;
The score was 7 to 0
A set of twenty members;
A score were sent out but only one returned
Grounds;
Don't do it on my account
The paper was rejected on account of its length
He tried to blame the victim but his success on that score was doubtful
The facts about an actual situation;
He didn't know the score
An amount due (as at a restaurant or bar);
Add it to my score and I'll settle later
A slight surface cut (especially a notch that is made to keep a tally)
A resentment strong enough to justify retaliation;
Holding a grudge
Settling a score
The act of scoring in a game or sport;
The winning score came with less than a minute left to play
Gain points in a game;
The home team scored many times
He hit a home run
He hit .300 in the past season
Make small marks into the surface of;
Score the clay before firing it
Make underscoring marks
Write a musical score for
Get a certain number or letter indicating quality or performance;
She scored high on the SAT
He scored a 200
Assign a grade or rank to, according to one's evaluation;
Grade tests
Score the SAT essays
Mark homework
Score Snonyms
Tally
A total count or score.
The final tally showed we had won by a large margin.
Point
A unit of score in sports or games.
He scored the winning point in the last second.
Grade
A score or mark given to someone's work.
I was happy with my grades this semester.
Mark
A score or grade achieved in a test or competition.
She got high marks on her exams.
Total
The sum of amounts.
The total of all scores was higher than last year.
Rank
To assign a position in a hierarchy or scale.
He ranks first in his class.
Record
To keep a factual account of.
She holds the record for the most goals scored in a season.
Evaluate
To judge or determine the significance, worth, or quality of something.
Teachers evaluate students' progress throughout the year.
Rate
To assign a standard or value to something according to a particular scale.
Movies are rated according to their content.
Count
To add up; to calculate the total of.
We counted the votes, and the results are in.
Score Idioms & Phrases
Score a point
To make a valid or effective argument or statement.
She scored a point during the discussion with her insightful comments.
Open the score
To be the first to score in a game.
The team's star player opened the score with an impressive goal.
Know the score
To be aware of the facts and implications.
Before joining the project, she made sure she knew the score.
Score a goal
To achieve a goal in sports, or metaphorically, to achieve an objective.
He scored a goal in the last minute, securing the team's victory.
Settle the score
To take revenge or retaliate.
He was determined to settle the score after being humiliated.
Up to score
Ready or prepared for a challenge.
With all his training, he felt up to score in the upcoming competition.
Score off
To gain an advantage or point at someone's expense.
He managed to score off his rival during the debate.
Score a hit
To achieve success or popularity.
Her new novel scored a hit and topped the bestseller lists.
Score a duck
In cricket, to be dismissed without scoring any runs; metaphorically, to fail completely.
Despite his efforts, he scored a duck in the attempt to reconcile the parties.
Score big
To achieve significant success or gain.
With his new invention, he scored big in the tech industry.
Score a touchdown
In American football, to score by carrying or catching the ball in the opponent's end zone; metaphorically, to achieve a major success.
The start-up scored a touchdown with their groundbreaking product.
Score a deal
To successfully negotiate a contract or purchase.
They scored a deal with a major distributor, expanding their market reach.
Score to settle
A grievance that requires rectification.
The two companies had an old score to settle regarding patent rights.
Score an own goal
To inadvertently harm one's own interests.
By spreading rumors, he scored an own goal and lost his friends' trust.
Score a hat-trick
In sports, to achieve three successes in a single game; metaphorically, to achieve three successes in any area.
The salesperson scored a hat-trick by closing three major deals in one day.
Score a win
To achieve a victory or success.
The underdog team scored a win against the reigning champions.
Score under par
In golf, to perform better than average; metaphorically, to exceed expectations.
She scored under par on her project, impressing her supervisors.
Level the score
To equalize or balance a situation, often in terms of competition or dispute.
The late goal helped the team level the score and push the game into overtime.
Keep score
To keep a record of points in a game, or metaphorically, to keep track of favors or grievances.
In a true friendship, it's important not to keep score.
Score Example Sentences
A score of musicians played at the festival.
Make sure to score the bread dough before baking.
The teachers will score the essays over the weekend.
The basketball team worked hard to improve their score.
He was thrilled to score tickets to the sold-out show.
The audience applauded the dramatic score during the play's climax.
Each composer brings a unique style to a film's score.
To ensure fairness, an independent panel will score the competition.
Who's going to score the game tonight?
The player scored three times in the game, leading to a victory.
The film's score added depth to the emotional scenes.
They needed just one more score to win the match.
She practiced daily to increase her score on the test.
Common Curiosities
Why is it called score?
It is called score because it originates from the Old Norse "skor," meaning a notch or tally, which were historically used to keep count.
What is a stressed syllable in score?
The entire word "score" is stressed, as it consists of only one syllable.
How is score used in a sentence?
Score is used to refer to the number of points in a game or a piece of music, e.g., He tried to beat his own high score in the game.
How do we divide score into syllables?
Since score has only one syllable, it is not divided.
What is the verb form of score?
The verb form of score is "score," as in "to score a goal" or "to score points."
What is the root word of score?
The root of score is the Old Norse word "skor," meaning a notch or tally.
What part of speech is score?
Score can be a noun, as in points in a game, or a verb, as in to make points.
How many syllables are in score?
Score has one syllable.
What is the pronunciation of score?
Score is pronounced as /skɔːr/ or /skoʊr/, depending on the accent.
Is score an abstract noun?
Score can be considered an abstract noun when referring to the concept of achieving points.
What is the first form of score?
The first form is "score," as in the present tense or base form of the verb.
What is the second form of score?
The second form is "scored," which is the simple past tense.
What is the third form of score?
The third form is also "scored," used as the past participle.
What is the opposite of score?
The opposite of score, in terms of achieving points, could be "lose" or "fail."
Is score an adverb?
No, score is not an adverb.
Is the score term a metaphor?
Score can be used metaphorically, especially in phrases like "settling the score."
Is the word score imperative?
Score can be used in an imperative form, e.g., "Score a goal!"
Is the word “score” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
Score can be a direct object, e.g., "He achieved a high score."
What is another term for score?
Another term for score can be "tally" when referring to points, or "music sheet" when referring to music.
What is the singular form of score?
The singular form is "score."
What is the plural form of score?
The plural form is "scores."
Is score a noun or adjective?
Score is primarily used as a noun but can also be a verb.
Is score a countable noun?
Yes, score is a countable noun; you can have one or multiple scores.
Which determiner is used with score?
Determiners like "a," "the," or "my" can be used with score, depending on the context.
Is score a vowel or consonant?
The word score starts with a consonant.
Which article is used with score?
The definite article "the" or indefinite "a" can be used, depending on the context, e.g., "The score was tied."
Is score a negative or positive word?
Score is neutral; its positive or negative connotation depends on the context.
Is score a collective noun?
No, score is not typically used as a collective noun.
Is the word score a Gerund?
No, score is not used as a gerund.
Which vowel is used before score?
The vowel "o" is used in score.
Which preposition is used with score?
Prepositions like "of" or "in" can be used with score, e.g., "a score of 20" or "score in the game."
Which conjunction is used with score?
Conjunctions like "and" or "but" can be used, e.g., "He scored and won the game."
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Written by
Maham LiaqatCo-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.