score
A score is the total number of points someone gets in a game or on a test.
Explanation at your level:
A score is a number. You get a score in a game. You get a score on a test. If you have many points, you have a high score. It shows if you win or lose.
In school, your teacher gives you a score for your homework. In sports, the score shows who is winning. You can check the score on the scoreboard during a game.
A score is a numerical representation of performance. We use it to compare results in competitions or to evaluate academic progress. Keeping a score helps everyone know who is ahead.
The term score is widely used in both professional and recreational contexts. Beyond games, we use it for things like credit ratings or survey results. It is essential for quantifying success in various fields.
Beyond its literal sense, score can denote a significant achievement or a tally of events. It is deeply embedded in idiomatic expressions that describe social awareness or settling past grievances. Its versatility allows it to function as a metric for everything from performance evaluation to financial risk.
Historically, score refers to a tallying system, which explains its secondary meaning as 'twenty'. In literary contexts, it may be used to emphasize the accumulation of items or time. The word's evolution from physical notches to digital data points reflects the human desire to quantify reality, making it a cornerstone of analytical language.
Wort in 30 Sekunden
- Score means a numerical result.
- It is used in games and tests.
- It can also mean twenty.
- It is a countable noun.
When you hear the word score, think of it as a way to keep track of progress or success. Whether you are playing a fast-paced game of basketball or finishing a difficult math exam, the score tells the story of how well you did.
In sports, it is the tally of goals or points. In the classroom, it is the grade that shows how much you have learned. It is a very common word because we love to measure our achievements!
The word score has a fascinating history rooted in the Old Norse word skor, which meant a notch or a tally mark. Long ago, people didn't have digital screens, so they kept track of counts by cutting notches into wood or sticks.
This is why the word also historically meant the number twenty—because a person would make a special mark after counting twenty items. It evolved from physical tallying to the abstract numerical values we use today.
You will see score used in many different ways. In casual settings, people often say keep score to track points. In formal or business contexts, you might hear about a credit score, which measures financial reliability.
Common combinations include high score, final score, and test score. It is a versatile noun that fits perfectly in both competitive and professional environments.
Idioms make English colorful! Here are a few:
- Settle the score: To get revenge or balance a past wrong.
- Know the score: To understand the truth of a situation.
- Score an own goal: To accidentally do something that hurts your own cause.
- Score big: To have a major success.
- Score points with someone: To do something to make someone like you more.
The noun score is countable, meaning you can have one score, two scores, or many scores. Its plural form is scores. In terms of pronunciation, it rhymes with door, floor, and more.
The IPA is /skɔːr/ in both British and American English. The 'r' is often rhotic in American English, making it sound slightly more robust than the British version.
Fun Fact
It also means the number twenty, as in Lincoln's 'Four score and seven years ago'.
Pronunciation Guide
Long 'o' sound, r is silent unless followed by a vowel.
Strong 'r' sound at the end.
Common Errors
- Pronouncing the 'c' as 's'
- Shortening the 'o' sound
- Adding extra syllables
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to read
Easy to use
Simple to say
Common word
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Fortgeschritten
Grammar to Know
Countable Nouns
a score, two scores
Subject-Verb Agreement
The score is high
Articles
the score
Examples by Level
The score is 2-1.
score = points
Simple present tense
I have a good score.
good = high
Article 'a' used
What is the score?
asking for the number
Question format
He got a high score.
high = big number
Adjective usage
The final score is out.
final = end
Subject-verb agreement
My test score is high.
test = school work
Possessive pronoun
Keep the score, please.
keep = track
Imperative verb
The score is zero.
zero = no points
Number usage
The team checked the score.
Her math score improved.
Did you see the score?
The score was very close.
He is happy with his score.
The score is updated online.
We need a higher score.
The score reflects his effort.
The credit score is important for loans.
They kept score during the tennis match.
The final score surprised everyone.
She achieved the highest score in the class.
The score gap is widening.
I was disappointed by my test score.
The score indicates a strong performance.
He checked the score on his phone.
The company uses a score to rank employees.
The score is a reflection of their dedication.
Despite the pressure, he maintained a high score.
The score differential was quite large.
We need to improve our credit score.
The score is based on several criteria.
She was pleased with her overall score.
The score does not tell the whole story.
The score serves as a benchmark for future tests.
His score was indicative of his deep knowledge.
The score is calculated using a complex algorithm.
She managed to settle the score with her rival.
The score is a testament to his hard work.
The score discrepancy was investigated.
They reached a score that set a new record.
The score is merely a snapshot of ability.
The score is an aggregate of multiple assessments.
The score is predicated on historical data.
He was obsessed with his credit score.
The score is a manifestation of years of study.
The score is calibrated for accuracy.
The score is subject to change.
The score is a proxy for academic success.
The score is a definitive measure of skill.
Häufige Kollokationen
Idioms & Expressions
"settle the score"
to get revenge
He wanted to settle the score after the argument.
casual"know the score"
to understand the situation
Don't try to lie; I know the score.
casual"score an own goal"
to hurt one's own chances
By insulting the boss, he scored an own goal.
casual"score big"
to have great success
The new product really scored big with customers.
casual"score points"
to gain favor
He is just trying to score points with the teacher.
casual"score a hit"
to have a successful product
Their new song really scored a hit.
neutralEasily Confused
Both measure performance
Grade is usually school, score is games/tests
He got an A grade, but a low score.
Both are outcomes
Result is broader, score is numerical
The result was a win, the score was 2-1.
Related to scoring
Point is a single unit, score is the total
He scored a point, bringing the score to 10.
Both involve counting
Tally is the act of counting, score is the final number
The tally is ongoing.
Sentence Patterns
The score is [number].
The score is ten.
He got a [adjective] score.
He got a high score.
The final score was [number].
The final score was five.
She improved her score by [number].
She improved her score by five points.
The score reflects [noun].
The score reflects his effort.
Wortfamilie
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Verwandt
How to Use It
9
Formality Scale
Häufige Fehler
Score is singular when referring to one game.
They are similar but context matters.
Score is a countable noun.
Don't confuse the action with the result.
Archaic usage is rare but exists.
Tips
Memory Palace Trick
Imagine a scoreboard above your desk.
When Native Speakers Use It
Used daily in sports talk.
Cultural Insight
Used in the Gettysburg Address.
Grammar Shortcut
Treat it like any other countable noun.
Say It Right
Focus on the long 'o'.
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't use it as an adjective.
Did You Know?
It comes from counting notches.
Study Smart
Use it in sentences about your grades.
Context Matters
Check if it's sports or math.
Pluralization
Just add 's'.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Score = S-C-O-R-E (Success Comes On Results Earned)
Visual Association
A scoreboard at a stadium
Word Web
Herausforderung
Check the score of a game today.
Wortherkunft
Old Norse
Original meaning: notch or tally mark
Kultureller Kontext
None
Used heavily in sports and academic culture.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
At school
- test score
- get a high score
- improve score
At a game
- final score
- keep score
- what is the score
Banking
- credit score
- check score
- low score
Competition
- settle the score
- score points
- high score
Conversation Starters
"What was your last test score?"
"Do you like keeping score in games?"
"Is a high credit score important?"
"How do you feel about your school scores?"
"What is the highest score you ever got?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a time you got a high score.
Describe a game where the score was close.
Why do we use scores to judge people?
How do you feel when you get a low score?
Häufig gestellte Fragen
8 FragenNo, it can be a verb too.
Scores.
Yes, in older English.
Yes, it is a countable noun.
A number showing financial health.
Like 'skor'.
It is neutral.
A card to record points.
Teste dich selbst
The ___ is 1-0.
Score refers to points.
What does a score show?
Score is a result.
A score can be a grade.
Scores are used in testing.
Word
Bedeutung
Collocations match.
Standard order.
He tried to ___ the score.
Settle the score is an idiom.
Which is an archaic meaning of score?
Score historically means twenty.
Score is always plural.
It can be singular.
Word
Bedeutung
Idiom meanings.
Complex sentence.
Ergebnis: /10
Summary
A score is the numerical summary of your performance in any competitive or evaluative situation.
- Score means a numerical result.
- It is used in games and tests.
- It can also mean twenty.
- It is a countable noun.
Memory Palace Trick
Imagine a scoreboard above your desk.
When Native Speakers Use It
Used daily in sports talk.
Cultural Insight
Used in the Gettysburg Address.
Grammar Shortcut
Treat it like any other countable noun.
Beispiel
I got a high score on my English homework yesterday.
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