scope out
phrasal verb
scoped out; scoping out; scopes out
US, informal
: to look at (someone or something) especially in order to get information
They scoped out the area before setting up the tent.
Players were scoping out the competition.
He wants to scope out all of the possibilities before deciding what to do.
Examples of scope out in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In the summer of 2022, Ukraine and the United States began to scope out a long-term plan to equip the Ukrainian armed forces with a credible defense and deterrence capability.
—
Eric Ciaramella, Foreign Affairs, 22 May 2024
Those looking to scope out the fashions and catch off-the-cuff comments can tune in for red carpet coverage from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
What channel will air the Emmys?
—Tim Balk, New York Daily News, 11 Sep. 2021
Luckily, Sugar shows up with some food for Charlie and instructions on scoping out Stallings’s place tomorrow morning, with just enough time to clock Carlo’s truck outside and rush the guy in the knick of time.
—Andy Andersen, Vulture, 26 Apr. 2024
County officials considered putting the crisis unit in a building a few miles from the hospital and even got an architect to scope out a renovation, according to meeting minutes.
—Isabelle Taft, ProPublica, 28 May 2024
Popular on Variety The episode opens with Ruby scoping out the Tardis and the Doctor explaining his origin on the planet Gallifrey.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 6 May 2024
Police scope out the scene of a crime and find a piece of evidence: a strand of hair, a blood sample, a bullet casing.
—Christian Mysliwiec, Fox News, 20 Apr. 2024
Unfortunately, the patterns that are setting up now don't necessarily match that expectation, which may leave those who put in the research to scope out the best locations suddenly in the lurch.
—Eric Henderson, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2024
Helicopters scoped out the chaotic scene in Holmby Hills.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 25 Mar. 2024
Eric Ciaramella, Foreign Affairs, 22 May 2024
Those looking to scope out the fashions and catch off-the-cuff comments can tune in for red carpet coverage from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
What channel will air the Emmys?
—Tim Balk, New York Daily News, 11 Sep. 2021
Luckily, Sugar shows up with some food for Charlie and instructions on scoping out Stallings’s place tomorrow morning, with just enough time to clock Carlo’s truck outside and rush the guy in the knick of time.
—Andy Andersen, Vulture, 26 Apr. 2024
County officials considered putting the crisis unit in a building a few miles from the hospital and even got an architect to scope out a renovation, according to meeting minutes.
—Isabelle Taft, ProPublica, 28 May 2024
Popular on Variety The episode opens with Ruby scoping out the Tardis and the Doctor explaining his origin on the planet Gallifrey.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 6 May 2024
Police scope out the scene of a crime and find a piece of evidence: a strand of hair, a blood sample, a bullet casing.
—Christian Mysliwiec, Fox News, 20 Apr. 2024
Unfortunately, the patterns that are setting up now don't necessarily match that expectation, which may leave those who put in the research to scope out the best locations suddenly in the lurch.
—Eric Henderson, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2024
Helicopters scoped out the chaotic scene in Holmby Hills.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 25 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'scope out.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near scope out
Cite this Entry
“Scope out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scope%20out. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.
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