Score: meaning, definitions and examples

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score

 

[ skɔr ]

Noun / Verb
Oxford 3000
Context #1 | Noun

sports

The number of points, goals, runs, etc. achieved in a game or competition.

Synonyms

points, result, tally.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
score

Used for tracking the number of points in a game, competition, or test. It's common in sports and academic performance.

  • The final score of the match was 3-2.
  • She scored high marks on her math test.
points

Used to denote individual units in a scoring system, often in games, competitions, or rating systems.

  • He scored three points in the basketball game.
  • The movie received 87 points out of 100 in the review.
result

Refers to the outcome or conclusion of an event, test, or examination. It focuses more on the final outcome rather than the numerical score.

  • The result of the election was surprising.
  • We are waiting for the test results to come back.
tally

Used to refer to a continuous count or record of numbers, often in an informal context. It can also track accumulated points or counts over time.

  • The tally of votes indicated a clear winner.
  • They kept a tally of the days they spent traveling.

Examples of usage

  • The final score was 3-2 in favor of the home team.
  • He has a high score in the basketball game.
Context #2 | Verb

music

To mark with lines or notches for the purpose of keeping a record.

Synonyms

annotate, mark, record.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
score

Used primarily in the context of sports, exams, or games to indicate the points earned by a participant or team.

  • The final score of the game was 3-2
  • She scored 95 out of 100 on her math test
mark

Commonly used in an educational context to assign a grade to a student's work, or in general to indicate a specific point or highlight something.

  • The teacher marked the exams over the weekend
  • She marked the important dates on her calendar
record

Used when documenting or capturing information, events, or performances, often for keeping an official account.

  • The event was recorded for future reference
  • He recorded his expenses in a ledger
annotate

Used in academic or professional settings to add notes or comments to a text, document, or diagram, often for the purpose of explanation or clarification.

  • The professor asked us to annotate the research paper with our thoughts
  • She annotated her notes to include references

Examples of usage

  • The conductor asked the musicians to score their music sheets for better coordination.

Translations

Translations of the word "score" in other languages:

🇵🇹 pontuação

🇮🇳 स्कोर

🇩🇪 Punktzahl

🇮🇩 skor

🇺🇦 рахунок

🇵🇱 wynik

🇯🇵 スコア

🇫🇷 score

🇪🇸 puntuación

🇹🇷 skor

🇰🇷 점수

🇸🇦 نتيجة

🇨🇿 skóre

🇸🇰 skóre

🇨🇳 得分

🇸🇮 rezultat

🇮🇸 stig

🇰🇿 есеп

🇬🇪 ქულა

🇦🇿 bal

🇲🇽 puntuación

Etymology

The word 'score' originated from the Old English word 'scor' which meant 'twenty'. It was used to keep track of marks or notches made on a stick to record a tally or count. Over time, the meaning evolved to include achieving points or goals in games or competitions. The use of 'score' in music to mark notations on a sheet also has a long history, dating back to the practice of composers marking their compositions for musicians to follow.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #3,065, this word is part of upper-intermediate vocabulary. While not among the most basic terms, it appears often enough to be valuable for advanced communication.