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
The Israeli citizens carried out hundreds of missions on behalf of Iran, including scoping out sensitive military sites and bases, domestic media reported, citing prosecutors.
—
Joel Thayer, Newsweek, 27 Jan. 2025
The group started planning the robbery in late November, when Singh and Kumari are accused of scoping out the house on Nov. 29, based on evidence found on his phone, according to the complaint.
—Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 17 Jan. 2025
Investigators later learned Brown and Williams were seen scoping out a credit union in St. Louis Park in an SUV about an hour before the ATM theft in Roseville.
—Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 6 Jan. 2025
The Barbie actor was seen scoping out a private school in London last month.
—Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 6 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for scope out 
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Joel Thayer, Newsweek, 27 Jan. 2025
The group started planning the robbery in late November, when Singh and Kumari are accused of scoping out the house on Nov. 29, based on evidence found on his phone, according to the complaint.
—Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 17 Jan. 2025
Investigators later learned Brown and Williams were seen scoping out a credit union in St. Louis Park in an SUV about an hour before the ATM theft in Roseville.
—Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 6 Jan. 2025
The Barbie actor was seen scoping out a private school in London last month.
—Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 6 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 Feb. 2025.
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