noun B1 Intermediate Common

scope

skohp

Scope (noun) means the range or extent of a subject, task, or activity. Example: “The scope of the project grew far beyond the original budget.”

noun

The range or extent of a subject, task, or activity.

"The scope of the project grew far beyond the original budget."

"That question is outside the scope of this meeting."

verb

To examine or investigate something briefly, especially to assess its extent or feasibility.

"Let's scope out the venue before we book it."

To define the boundaries or requirements of a task or project.

"The team spent a week scoping the new feature before writing any code."

How to use scope

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishHow far something reaches or covers — a project's scope is everything it is meant to include.

Common pairings

within scope scope out broaden the scope scope creep

Word forms

scoped past tense, scopes plural, scopes singular

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The _____ of the project grew far beyond the original budget.

Etymology

From Italian scopo, "purpose," ultimately from Ancient Greek skopos, "target" — the same root that gives us "skeptic" and "spectrum."

Origin: Ancient Greek

Synonyms

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range extent breadth span reach remit

Related words

while come area rate amount size range contact

Rhymes for scope

ope pope mope rope dope hope lope nope cope trope slope grope

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Frequently asked questions

What does “scope” mean?

The word “scope” means the range or extent of a subject, task, or activity. In plain terms, how far something reaches or covers — a project's scope is everything it is meant to include.

How do you pronounce “scope”?

“Scope” is pronounced skohp (/skoʊp/ in IPA).

How do you use “scope” in a sentence?

Here is “scope” used in a sentence: “The scope of the project grew far beyond the original budget.”

What part of speech is “scope”?

Depending on how it is used, “scope” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “scope” come from?

The word “scope” comes from Ancient Greek. From Italian scopo, "purpose," ultimately from Ancient Greek skopos, "target" — the same root that gives us "skeptic" and "spectrum.".

Is “scope” a common word?

“Scope” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

How many meanings does “scope” have?

“Scope” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the range or extent of a subject, task, or activity.

What is the difference between "scope" and "scale"?

"Scope" refers to the range or extent of what a subject or task covers, while "scale" refers to its size or magnitude. A project's scope is what it includes, whereas its scale is how big it is.

What is the difference between "scope" and "range"?

The words overlap, but "scope" emphasises the breadth of what is dealt with and the limits of an activity, while "range" emphasises the span between two points or a set of options. A study's scope may be broad while its data covers a wide range.

What are common phrases using "scope"?

Frequent collocations include "scope of work," "scope of a project," "within scope," "out of scope," and "leave scope for." These uses draw on the sense of range or boundaries.

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