score

SKOR/skoɹ/UKSKAW/skɔː/

Verbscores, scoring, scored

Noun pluralscores, score

36 meanings of score

Practice

1
get points (sport)verbtransitive or intransitive
To get a point or goal in a game, or a certain mark on a test.
She scored the winning goal.
Players who score often get more playing time.
UsageSay score a goal or score 90 on a test.
Similarnet
Oppositeconcede
2
points earnednouncountable
The number of points each player or team has in a game.
Like keeping count of how many points you have collected in a game.
His score went up after he made the last basket.
She had the best score on the team.
UsageAsk what's the score? during a game.
Similartally, total, result, count
3
nouncountable
A number that rates something, like how likely you are to pay back money, or how good a product is.
My credit score went up after I paid off my card.
The app gives each restaurant a cleanliness score from one to ten.
UsageSay credit score.
Similarrating
4
test resultnouncountable
The number or grade you get on a test or exam.
She got a high score on the math test.
My score went up after I studied more.
UsageSay a high score on the test.
Similargrade, mark, result, rating
5
achieveverbtransitive or intransitive
To manage to get something you wanted, such as a deal or money won in a game.
Like finally getting the thing you really hoped for.
He scored an interview with the company he admired.
You might score a discount if you ask politely.
UsageSay she scored free tickets.
Similarland, secure, get, win, obtain
Note
6
film musicnouncountable
The music written for a movie or play.
Like the background music in a video game that sets the mood.
The movie's score made the chase scene exciting.
I loved the score in that animated film.
UsageOften used in film score or original score.
Similarsoundtrack, music
Note
7
large numbernouncountableplural
A large number of people or things.
Like saying 'lots and lots' to mean a very big number.
Scores of fans waited outside the stadium.
We found scores of shells on the beach.
UsageUse scores of before a plural noun: scores of people.
Similardozens, hundreds, lots, masses, loads
Oppositehandful
Note
8
rateverbtransitive
To judge how good something is and give it a rating.
Like a teacher giving stars to show how good your work is.
Judges scored each cake on taste and looks.
We score every product before we sell it.
UsageJudges score the dancers on skill.
Similarrate, grade, mark, evaluate, assess
Note
9
written musicnouncountable
The written music that shows every part for singers and instruments.
Like a map showing where every instrument plays at the same time.
The conductor turned each page of the score.
The conductor followed the full score during the concert.
UsageOften the full score. A single player's sheet is a part.
Similarmusic
Note
10
nouncountable
Something bad done to you in the past that you still want revenge for, as in 'settle a score'.
After the fight at school, Jake felt he had a score to settle with Tom.
In the movie, the hero goes back to his hometown to settle an old score.
Similargrudge
Note

Less common meanings

11
write a soundtrackverbtransitive
To write the music for a movie or show.
Like adding music that matches what happens on the screen.
A famous composer scored the new adventure movie.
They asked her to score their short film.
Similarcompose, orchestrate
Note
12
cut a lineverbtransitive
To cut a small line or groove into a surface.
Like pressing a line into cardboard so it bends right there.
Score the paper with a ruler so it folds neatly.
She scored the clay before joining the two pieces.
Similarcut, notch, scratch, slash, incise
Note
13
verbtransitivemusic
To write or change a piece of music so that certain instruments or voices can play or sing it.
Our music teacher will score the song for piano and three recorders.
The old folk tune was scored for two guitars and a fiddle.
UsageSay a piece is scored for piano and voice.
Similararrange, orchestrate
Note
14
nouncolloquialcountable
Something good you manage to get, especially a lucky find or a cheap deal.
This jacket was only five dollars at the thrift store. What a score!
Getting tickets to the sold-out show was a real score.
UsageSay that jacket was a great score.
Similarfind, bargain, haul
15
hoorayinterjectionslangUS
Said to celebrate a small win or piece of good luck.
Like shouting 'Yes!' when something goes your way.
Score! I found a dollar on the ground.
We got front-row seats: score!
UsageUse Score! on its own, before or after the good news.
Similarresult, bingo, yes
Note
16
keep countverbintransitive
To keep track of the points during a game or test.
He offered to score so the players could focus on the game.
She sat with a pencil and scored carefully throughout the match.
Similartally, count, record
17
twentynouncountable
A group of twenty.
Like saying 'a dozen' for twelve, but here it means twenty.
A score of years had passed since they met.
The tiny village had only a score of houses.
Note
18
groundsnoun
A subject or reason, as in 'don't worry on that score'.
The test results were fine, so don't worry on that score.
The car is very safe, so you can relax on that score.
Similaraccount, grounds, basis
Note
19
have sexverbslangvulgartransitive or intransitive
To manage to have sex with someone you wanted.
He bragged that he scored at the party last night.
They went out hoping to score that weekend.
Similarpull
Note
20
nouncountable
A cut or notch in a surface, often one made to keep count.
Like a pencil mark you make each time you count something.
Each score on the stick stood for one sheep sold.
The baker made one long score across the top of the loaf.
Similarnotch, nick, groove, scratch, incision
Note
21
robberynounslangUScountable
A planned robbery or theft, especially a big one.
The gang pulled off a big score at the bank downtown.
After the score, they split the cash three ways.
Similarheist, robbery, job, raid
Note
22
drug dealnounslangUScountable
An illegal sale of something, usually drugs.
The dealer set up a score with a new buyer that night.
Police interrupted a drug score behind the warehouse.
Similardeal, buy, transaction, sale
Note
23
sexual conquestnounslangvulgarcountable
A person someone has succeeded in having sex with, thought of as a win.
He treated every date as just another score.
She refused to be treated as some guy's score.
Similarconquest, pickup, notch
Note
24
winningsnouncountable
The money someone wins from gambling.
Like the prize money you take home after winning a game.
He used his score from the card game to pay the rent.
He made a big score at the racetrack and bought everyone dinner.
Similarwinnings, haul, takings, pot
Oppositelosses
Note
25
nouncolloquialuncountable
Used with 'the': the real facts of a situation, especially bad ones you have to accept.
Don't worry about the new girl. She already knows the score.
Look, here's the score: we can't pay the rent next month unless one of us finds a job.
UsageKnow the score means understand how things really are.
Similarsituation, story
26
nounslangBritishcountable
Twenty British pounds, as an amount of money.
Can you lend me a score until Friday?
The concert tickets cost a score each, so we only bought two.
Note
27
noun
A bill or amount of money that is owed.
28
verbslangUS
To get money from someone by demanding a bribe.
29
nounslangUS
Money paid secretly to a police officer to buy silence or help.
30
nounslangUS
A person who pays a prostitute for sex.
31
noun
A document that lists all the differences between copies of a text.
32
noun
A 20-yard distance in old-time shooting.
33
noun
Twenty pounds of weight.
34
noun
A stretch of 20 years.
35
noundialectalUK
In Lowestoft, England, a steep little lane from the clifftop down to the shore.
36
verb
To send racing horses back to start until the start is fair.

More uses

settle a scoreto get back at someone for an old wrong

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of score apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

It comes from Old English "scoru" meaning a notch or tally, from Old Norse "skor." The meaning "twenty" came from a mark that drovers made on a tally for every twenty animals passing a tollgate.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

Score derives from Old English scoru, meaning a notch or tally. en.wiktionary.org
Old English scoru derives from Old Norse skor. en.wiktionary.org
The twenty sense arose from drovers' tally marks for groups of twenty animals passing through a tollgate. en.wiktionary.org