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
When producers were scoping out locations for the show, the home was owned by Fran and Louis Padilla, who had bought it in 1973.
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USA TODAY, 4 Jan. 2025
First, Gi-hun and two others scope out the night club listed on the card found inside the Recruiter’s pocket.
—Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 26 Dec. 2024
The original winners were actually the first people viewers see scoping out the house in the series.
—Hunter Ingram, Variety, 14 Dec. 2024
And the device isn't alone down there, as the intelligent eyes of a raccoon are staring up at the camera, as if scoping out its next move.
—Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for scope out 
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USA TODAY, 4 Jan. 2025
First, Gi-hun and two others scope out the night club listed on the card found inside the Recruiter’s pocket.
—Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 26 Dec. 2024
The original winners were actually the first people viewers see scoping out the house in the series.
—Hunter Ingram, Variety, 14 Dec. 2024
And the device isn't alone down there, as the intelligent eyes of a raccoon are staring up at the camera, as if scoping out its next move.
—Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for scope out
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 8 Jan. 2025.
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