Score vs. Obtain — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 9, 2024
"Score" refers to achieving a goal or obtaining points in a game or competitive context, while "obtain" is a general term for acquiring or gaining possession of something.
Difference Between Score and Obtain
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
"Score" is often used in the context of sports or games, where it specifically refers to gaining points or achieving a goal. On the other hand, "obtain" is used in a broader context, referring to the act of acquiring or gaining something through effort or request.
In usage, "score" implies an achievement that is often quantifiable, such as in games or tests. Whereas "obtain" can refer to acquiring both tangible and intangible items, and the process might not be competitive or quantifiable.
The term "score" can also mean to make a notch or scratch on a surface, showing its versatility beyond just numerical or competitive achievements. Conversely, "obtain" does not carry other meanings related to physical marking or alteration.
"Score" can additionally refer to a written musical composition, indicating a very specific type of achievement in a creative domain. On the other hand, "obtain" would not be used in this sense but could involve acquiring a musical score.
In a legal or formal context, "score" might be less commonly used unless specifically referring to numerical values or results, such as credit scores. "Obtain," however, is regularly used in legal, academic, and formal texts to indicate the acquisition of rights, permissions, or objects.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Contextual Usage
Competitive, quantifiable achievements
Broad acquisition of items or permissions
Implied Action
Achieving in sports/games or marking a surface
Acquiring through effort or transaction
Additional Meanings
Musical compositions, physical marking
None specific beyond general acquisition
Common Domains
Sports, games, music
Legal, business, everyday contexts
Formality
Informal when referring to games
More formal, used in legal/business settings
Compare with Definitions
Score
To succeed in obtaining something desirable.
He scored tickets to the sold-out concert.
Obtain
To be prevalent or customary.
Such practices no longer obtain in our culture.
Score
To obtain points in a game or competitive event.
She scored the winning goal in the final minute.
Obtain
To succeed in achieving something through effort.
He obtained the necessary votes to pass the bill.
Score
To make a notch or line on a surface.
The carpenter scored the wood to mark where he would cut.
Obtain
To secure or procure (something that requires effort).
She obtained the rare book at an auction.
Score
A written form of a musical composition.
She read the score carefully before the performance.
Obtain
To achieve or gain, as through effort.
After years of research, he finally obtained significant results.
Score
To arrange music for a film, play, or television.
He scored the music for the new Broadway musical.
Obtain
To come into possession of something; to acquire.
She obtained her driver's license last week.
Score
A usually numerical record of a competitive event
Keeping score.
Obtain
To succeed in gaining possession of as the result of planning or endeavor; acquire.
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.
Obtain
To be in existence, in effect, or customary
"standards, proprieties that no longer obtain" (Meg Greenfield).
Score
The number of points attributed to a competitor or team.
Obtain
(Archaic) To succeed.
Score
A result, usually expressed numerically, of a test or examination.
Obtain
(transitive) To get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way.
Score
An amount due; a debt.
Obtain
To secure (that) a specific objective or state of affairs be reached.
Score
A grievance that is harbored and requires satisfaction
Settle an old score.
Obtain
To prevail, be victorious; to succeed.
Score
A ground; a reason
You have nothing to worry about on that score.
Obtain
To hold; to keep, possess or occupy.
Score
A group of 20 items.
Obtain
To exist or be the case; to hold true, be in force.
Score
Scores Large numbers
Scores of people attended the rally.
Obtain
To hold; to keep; to possess.
His mother, then, is mortal, but his SireHe who obtains the monarchy of heaven.
Score
The notation of a musical work.
Obtain
To get hold of by effort; to gain possession of; to procure; to acquire, in any way.
Some pray for riches; riches they obtain.
By guileful fair words peace may be obtained.
It may be that I may obtain children by her.
Score
The written form of a composition for orchestral or vocal parts.
Obtain
To gain or have a firm footing; to be recognized or established; to become prevalent or general; to prevail; as, the custom obtains of going to the seashore in summer.
Sobriety hath by use obtained to signify temperance in drinking.
The Theodosian code, several hundred years after Justinian's time, did obtain in the western parts of Europe.
Score
The music written for a film or a play.
Obtain
To prevail; to succeed.
So run that ye may obtain.
There is due from the judge to the advocate, some commendation, where causes are fair pleaded; especially towards the side which obtaineth not.
Score
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).
Obtain
Come into possession of;
How did you obtain the visa?
Score
The act or an instance of buying illicit drugs.
Obtain
Receive a specified treatment (abstract);
These aspects of civilization do not find expression or receive an interpretation
His movie received a good review
I got nothing but trouble for my good intentions
Score
A successful robbery.
Obtain
Be valid, applicable, or true;
This theory still holds
Score
A notch or incision, especially one that is made to keep a tally.
Score
To achieve or accomplish
Scored a success in the play.
Score
To achieve or gain in a game or contest
Score a touchdown.
Score
To count or be worth as points
A basket scores two points.
Score
To keep a written record of the score or events of (a game or contest).
Score
(Baseball) To cause (a base runner) to cross home plate, especially by getting a hit
Scored both runners with a double.
Score
To evaluate and assign a grade to
Score a test.
Score
To orchestrate (a piece of music).
Score
To arrange for a specific instrument.
Score
To criticize cuttingly; berate.
Score
To succeed in acquiring
Scored two tickets to the play.
Score
To succeed in obtaining (an illicit drug)
"Aging punks try to impress her with tales of ... the different drugs they've scored" (Art Jahnke).
Score
To mark (a piece of paper or wood, for example) with lines or notches, especially for the purpose of keeping a record.
Score
To cancel or eliminate by superimposing lines.
Score
To mark the surface of (meat, for example) with usually parallel cuts.
Score
To make a point or points in a game or contest.
Score
To record the score or progress of a game or contest.
Score
To achieve a purpose or advantage, especially to make a surprising gain or coup
"They ... score in places like the bond market" (Mike Barnicle).
Score
To succeed in buying or obtaining an illicit drug.
Score
The total number of goals, points, runs, etc. earned by a participant in a game.
The player with the highest score is the winner.
Score
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!
Score
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.
Score
Twenty, 20.
Some words have scores of meanings.
Score
(gambling) An amount of money won in gambling; winnings.
Score
A weight of twenty pounds.
Score
(music) The written form of a musical composition showing all instrumental and vocal parts.
Score
(music) The music of a movie or play.
Score
Subject.
Score
Account; reason; motive; sake; behalf.
Score
A notch or incision; especially, one that is made as a tally mark; hence, a mark, or line, made for the purpose of account.
Score
An account or reckoning; account of dues; bill; debt.
Score
A criminal act, especially:
Score
A robbery.
Let's pull a score!
Score
A bribe paid to a police officer.
Score
An illegal sale, especially of drugs.
He made a big score.
Score
A prostitute's client.
Score
In the Lowestoft area, a narrow pathway running down a cliff to the beach.
Score
(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.
Score
(intransitive) To record the tally of points for a game, a match, or an examination.
Score
(ambitransitive) To obtain something desired.
Score
To earn points in a game.
It is unusual for a team to score a hundred goals in one game.
Pelé scores again!
Score
To achieve (a score) in e.g. a test.
Score
(gambling) To win money by gambling.
Score
(slang) To acquire or gain.
I scored some drugs last night.
Did you score tickets for the concert?
Score
To extract a bribe.
Score
(transitive) To provide (a film, etc.) with a musical score.
Score
Acknowledgement of success
Score
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.
Score
An account or reckoning; account of dues; bill; hence, indebtedness.
He parted well, and paid his score.
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.
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.
Score
A weight of twenty pounds.
Score
The number of points gained by the contestants, or either of them, in any game, as in cards or cricket.
Score
A line drawn; a groove or furrow.
Score
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.
Score
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?
Score
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.
Score
Especially, to mark with significant lines or notches, for indicating or keeping account of something; as, to score a tally.
Score
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.
Score
To engrave, as upon a shield.
Score
To make a score of, as points, runs, etc., in a game.
Score
To mark with parallel lines or scratches; as, the rocks of New England and the Western States were scored in the drift epoch.
Score
To keep the score in a game; to act as scorer.
Score
To make or count a point or points, as in a game; to tally.
Score
To run up a score, or account of dues.
Score
To purchase drugs illegally.
Score
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?
Score
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
Score
A number that expresses the accomplishment of a team or an individual in a game or contest;
The score was 7 to 0
Score
A set of twenty members;
A score were sent out but only one returned
Score
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
Score
The facts about an actual situation;
He didn't know the score
Score
An amount due (as at a restaurant or bar);
Add it to my score and I'll settle later
Score
A slight surface cut (especially a notch that is made to keep a tally)
Score
A resentment strong enough to justify retaliation;
Holding a grudge
Settling a score
Score
The act of scoring in a game or sport;
The winning score came with less than a minute left to play
Score
Gain points in a game;
The home team scored many times
He hit a home run
He hit .300 in the past season
Score
Make small marks into the surface of;
Score the clay before firing it
Score
Make underscoring marks
Score
Write a musical score for
Score
Get a certain number or letter indicating quality or performance;
She scored high on the SAT
He scored a 200
Score
Assign a grade or rank to, according to one's evaluation;
Grade tests
Score the SAT essays
Mark homework
Common Curiosities
Is "score" used only in relation to games?
While commonly associated with games, "score" can also refer to making marks on a surface or composing music.
How is "score" used in a musical context?
In music, a "score" refers to the written notation of a musical composition.
What does it mean to obtain permission?
To obtain permission means to gain the right or consent to do something from an authoritative or controlling entity.
Can "score" imply success beyond games?
Yes, "score" can imply success in general terms, such as scoring a deal or an opportunity.
What does it mean to obtain a degree?
To obtain a degree means to fulfill the necessary requirements and graduate from an educational institution.
Can "obtain" be used in a competitive context?
"Obtain" is generally used in non-competitive contexts, referring to the acquisition of items or information.
Is "score" used in academic settings?
"Score" is used in academic settings in the context of quantifying test results or achievements.
What does it mean to score in sports?
In sports, to score typically means to achieve points or goals against an opposing team.
Can one "obtain" a score in music?
Yes, one can obtain a musical score, meaning acquiring the written sheets of music.
Is it correct to say someone scored a job?
Yes, informally, saying someone "scored a job" implies they succeeded in obtaining employment, often under competitive circumstances.
Can "score" be used interchangeably with "obtain"?
"Score" and "obtain" are not generally interchangeable as "score" often has a competitive or achievement-oriented connotation.
What are the formal uses of "obtain"?
"Obtain" is used formally to indicate the acquisition of items, rights, or data, as in legal or academic contexts.
What does "obtain" imply in legal terms?
In legal terms, "obtain" refers to legally acquiring something, such as evidence, rights, or permissions.
How does one "obtain" information?
One obtains information by researching, asking questions, or accessing data repositories.
Why might someone use "obtain" instead of "get"?
"Obtain" is often used instead of "get" in formal contexts to imply a more deliberate process of acquisition.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Australasia vs. Oceania
Next Comparison
Biro vs. BallpointAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
