score
8 synonyms and 0 antonyms for score, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The total number of points, goals, or runs earned in a game or contest.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
How to use score
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old English scoru, borrowed from Old Norse skor, "a notch or tally," related to the idea of cutting a mark for every twenty animals passing through a gate — hence the old meaning "twenty."
Full origin of score →Frequently asked questions
What does “score” mean?
The word “score” means the total number of points, goals, or runs earned in a game or contest. In plain terms, most often the number of points in a game or test, but also the sheet music for a film/show, or slang for successfully getting hold of something.
How do you pronounce “score”?
“Score” is pronounced skaw (/skoɹ/ in IPA).
How do you use “score” in a sentence?
Here is “score” used in a sentence: “The final score was 3 to 1 in favour of the home team.”
What is another word for “score”?
Words with a similar meaning to “score” include earn and obtain.
What part of speech is “score”?
Depending on how it is used, “score” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “score” come from?
The word “score” comes from Old English. From Old English scoru, borrowed from Old Norse skor, "a notch or tally," related to the idea of cutting a mark for every twenty animals passing through a gate — hence the old meaning "twenty.".
Is “score” a common word?
“Score” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “score” have?
“Score” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the total number of points, goals, or runs earned in a game or contest.
What is the difference between a score and a result?
A score is the number of points, goals, or runs earned, such as 3–1. A result is the outcome it produces — who won, lost, or drew. The score gives the exact figures; the result is the conclusion drawn from them. A 3–1 score, for instance, gives one team the winning result.
Does score mean twenty?
Yes, in an older use a score means twenty. It survives in phrases like 'three score and ten' for seventy, and famously in Abraham Lincoln's 'four score and seven years ago,' meaning eighty-seven. This counting sense is now old-fashioned, but the number meaning of score still appears in formal or literary language.
What are the other meanings of score?
Beyond points in a game, score can mean the written music for a song, film, or play — a musical score. As a verb it can mean to make a mark or cut, as in scoring a line in card. It also appears in 'settle a score,' meaning to get even.