chalk up

verb

chalked up; chalking up; chalks up
Synonyms of chalk upnext

transitive verb

1
: ascribe, credit
chalked up his failures to inexperience
2
: attain, achieve
chalk up another victory

Examples of chalk up in a Sentence

let's chalk up her weird behavior to simple nervousness chalked up a record in singles tennis that is likely to stand for a long time
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Losses can be chalked up to software falling out of favor again. Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 17 June 2026 Last season, some of that can be chalked up to injuries on the offensive line. Rick Stroud, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 June 2026 Changes in urban raccoon behavior can’t automatically be chalked up to domestication either. Shoshi Parks, Popular Science, 10 June 2026 Adraee chalked up the whole situation as a win. Melanie Lidman, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for chalk up

Word History

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of chalk up was in 1877

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Cite this Entry

“Chalk up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chalk%20up. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.

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