高分
A high score is a large number of points earned in a game or a great grade on a test.
Explanation at your level:
A high score means you did very well. If you play a game, you want a high score. If you take a test, you want a high score. It makes you happy!
When you get a high score, it means you have many points. You can get a high score in a video game or on a school test. It is a very good result.
A high score represents a successful result in a competition or exam. People often try to beat their previous high score to show improvement. It is a common term in both education and entertainment.
Using the term high score signifies that an individual has performed above the average. It is frequently used in professional contexts, such as standardized testing, where a high score is required for university admission or job certification.
The term high score functions as a quantitative benchmark for excellence. In academic or professional settings, achieving a high score is often synonymous with proficiency and competence. It serves as a clear indicator of success in any structured evaluation system.
Beyond its literal application in gaming and testing, the concept of a high score can metaphorically represent peak performance in various life endeavors. It encapsulates the human drive for optimization and the desire to be ranked among the elite. Historically, it reflects our innate need to quantify achievement, tracing back to the primitive practice of tallying marks to establish hierarchy and status.
Word in 30 Seconds
- High score means a great result.
- It is used in games and tests.
- It is a countable noun.
- It is a positive term.
When you hear the term high score, think of it as a badge of honor. Whether you are playing a digital game or taking a math test, this phrase tells everyone that you did a fantastic job.
In gaming, the high score is the ultimate goal, often displayed on a leaderboard to show who the best player is. In academics, getting a high score on an exam is proof that you studied hard and mastered the material. It is a positive, encouraging term that celebrates success and progress in any area where points are tracked.
The word high comes from Old English heah, meaning elevated or tall. Score has a much more interesting history; it comes from the Old Norse word skor, which meant a notch or a tally mark.
In the past, people kept track of numbers by carving notches into sticks or wood—this was literally a score. As technology evolved, we stopped using sticks, but the word stuck around. When we combined these two, we created a way to describe the 'top notch' or the highest tally in a competition. It is a perfect example of how ancient habits shape our modern language today.
You will see high score used in almost every competitive setting. It is very common to say you 'achieved' or 'attained' a high score in formal contexts, while in casual gaming, you might just say you 'beat the high score'.
Common collocations include 'record a high score', 'maintain a high score', or even 'the high score list'. It is a neutral-to-positive term that works perfectly in both professional school reports and casual chats with your friends about your favorite video game.
While high score isn't an idiom itself, it is often part of competitive language. 1. Beat the high score: To surpass the current record. 2. Set a new high score: To reach a level no one else has reached before. 3. Aim for a high score: To work hard toward a top result. 4. Off the charts: Used when a score is so high it cannot be measured. 5. Top of the leaderboard: Being the person with the high score.
High score is a countable noun. You can have one high score or many high scores. It is usually preceded by an article like 'a' or 'the'.
Pronunciation-wise, the US IPA is /haɪ skɔːr/ and the UK IPA is /haɪ skɔː/. The stress is on the word 'high'. It rhymes with words like 'sky', 'fly', 'dry', 'pie', and 'tie'. Remember to keep the 'h' sound crisp in 'high' and let the 'score' finish with a clear 'r' sound in American English.
Fun Fact
Score comes from the Old Norse word for a notch on a stick.
Pronunciation Guide
Crisp 'h' and silent 'r' at the end.
Clear 'r' sound at the end.
Common Errors
- Pronouncing 'h' as 's'
- Dropping the 's' in score
- Mispronouncing the 'o' sound
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Very easy to read.
Easy to use.
Commonly spoken.
Clear sounds.
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Articles
A high score
Countable Nouns
High scores
Past Tense
Got a high score
Examples by Level
I have a high score.
I have a good result.
Simple present.
She wants a high score.
She wants many points.
Verb 'want'.
The game has a high score.
The game records points.
Subject-verb agreement.
He got a high score.
He earned many points.
Past tense 'got'.
Is this a high score?
Is this a good result?
Question structure.
My high score is ten.
My best result is 10.
Possessive pronoun.
We need a high score.
We must do well.
Modal verb 'need'.
That is a high score!
That is a great result!
Demonstrative pronoun.
I beat my high score today.
The test requires a high score.
She is proud of her high score.
Can you get a high score?
The high score is 100 points.
He has the high score in class.
Try to get a high score.
The high score is very hard to beat.
Achieving a high score takes practice.
He was disappointed with his high score.
The high score on the exam was impressive.
She aimed for a high score to get into college.
The video game saves your high score automatically.
Getting a high score is not always easy.
They celebrated his high score at dinner.
What is your current high score?
A high score is essential for this scholarship.
He managed to set a new high score in the final round.
The criteria for a high score are quite strict.
She consistently maintains a high score in her studies.
The high score reflects his deep understanding of the topic.
We are looking for candidates with a high score in English.
The high score on the leaderboard is unbeatable.
A high score can open many doors for your career.
The candidate achieved an exceptionally high score on the proficiency test.
He prides himself on maintaining a high score throughout his academic tenure.
The high score serves as a testament to his dedication and hard work.
Achieving a high score is merely the first step toward mastery.
The high score threshold was raised to ensure higher standards.
She was awarded a prize for the high score in the competition.
The high score is a reflection of his analytical capabilities.
A high score does not always guarantee success in the real world.
The attainment of a high score is often pursued with relentless vigor in competitive fields.
His high score was an outlier, far exceeding the performance of his peers.
The high score serves as a benchmark for excellence in this rigorous discipline.
One must not conflate a high score with genuine intellectual curiosity.
The system rewards those who consistently produce a high score.
A high score is a quantifiable metric of one's relative success.
The pursuit of a high score can sometimes stifle creative thinking.
His high score remains the gold standard for all future participants.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"off the charts"
Extremely high.
His score was off the charts!
casual"top of the class"
The best performer.
She is at the top of the class.
neutral"set the bar high"
To aim for a high standard.
He set the bar high for everyone.
neutral"raise the bar"
To increase the difficulty.
They raised the bar with this test.
neutral"hit the mark"
To succeed.
He really hit the mark this time.
neutral"a feather in one's cap"
An achievement.
Getting that high score was a feather in his cap.
idiomaticEasily Confused
Both mean success.
Grade is for school, score is for points/games.
He got a high grade on the test.
Similar meaning.
Top score is the absolute best.
She had the top score.
Both indicate best.
Record is the best ever.
He broke the record.
Both mean high.
Peak is a point in time or height.
He reached his peak.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + get + a + high score
I got a high score.
Subject + achieve + a + high score
She achieved a high score.
Subject + set + a + high score
He set a high score.
Subject + maintain + a + high score
They maintain a high score.
Subject + aim for + a + high score
We aim for a high score.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
8
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
Mark is a noun, not a verb in this context.
Height is a noun, high is the adjective.
Score implies points.
It is a countable noun.
Games use scores, school uses grades.
Tips
Memory Palace Trick
Imagine a scoreboard in your room.
When Native Speakers Use It
In gaming and school.
Cultural Insight
Competition is valued.
Grammar Shortcut
Use 'a' before it.
Say It Right
Emphasize 'high'.
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't say 'high mark' as a verb.
Did You Know?
Score comes from notches.
Study Smart
Use flashcards.
Expand It
Learn 'top-tier'.
Write Better
Use 'achieve' instead of 'get'.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
High = Up, Score = Points. Points go up!
Visual Association
A person jumping high with a giant '100' sign.
Word Web
Challenge
Try to beat your high score in a game today!
Word Origin
English
Original meaning: Elevated notch/tally
Cultural Context
None
Used universally in gaming and education.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
At school
- Get a high score
- Improve my score
- Study for a high score
Gaming
- Beat the high score
- New high score
- Leaderboard
Sports
- Record a high score
- High score of the match
Testing
- Achieve a high score
- Requirement for a high score
Conversation Starters
"What is your high score in your favorite game?"
"Do you think a high score on a test is important?"
"How can you get a high score on your next exam?"
"Have you ever beaten a high score?"
"What is the highest score you have ever achieved?"
Journal Prompts
Describe a time you got a high score.
Why is it important to aim for a high score?
Write about a game where you tried to get a high score.
How do you feel when you get a high score?
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsNo, it is two words.
Yes, that is the superlative.
Yes, common in basketball or golf.
Low score.
Yes, for performance metrics.
No, usually for results.
It is neutral.
That is the highest possible score.
Test Yourself
I want a ___ score.
High score is the goal.
What does a high score mean?
It means success.
A high score is bad.
It is a positive result.
Word
Meaning
Definitions match.
I got a high score.
He ___ a new high score.
Set a score is correct.
High score is an uncountable noun.
It is countable.
Which is a synonym for high score?
Top mark is synonymous.
He attained the high score.
Word
Meaning
Vocabulary matching.
Score: /10
Summary
A high score is the best way to show you have succeeded in a task.
- High score means a great result.
- It is used in games and tests.
- It is a countable noun.
- It is a positive term.
Memory Palace Trick
Imagine a scoreboard in your room.
When Native Speakers Use It
In gaming and school.
Cultural Insight
Competition is valued.
Grammar Shortcut
Use 'a' before it.
Related Content
Related Grammar Rules
Related Phrases
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缺席
B1The state of being absent from a place or event where one is expected to be, such as a class, meeting, or ceremony.
抽象的
A2Abstract.
抽象地
B1In an abstract manner; conceptually.
艰深
B1Profound; abstruse; recondite.
学术性
A2Academic; scholarly; relating to education and scholarship.
学术化
B1Academic; characterized by formal study or research.
学术会议
A2Academic conference; a formal meeting for academic discussions.
学术交流
B1Exchange of ideas, information, and research among scholars.
学术期刊
B1A periodical publication containing scholarly articles.
教务处
A2Academic affairs office; department handling educational administration.
