Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
dictionary thesaurus view recents

chalk up

verb
Save Word
chalked up; chalking up; chalks up

Definition of chalk up

transitive verb

1 : ascribe, credit chalked up his failures to inexperience
2 : attain, achieve chalk up another victory
Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about chalk up

Keep scrolling for more

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

First Known Use of chalk up

1826, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about chalk up

Statistics for chalk up

Time Traveler for chalk up

The first known use of chalk up was in 1826

See more words from the same year

Keep scrolling for more

More from Merriam-Webster on chalk up

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for chalk up

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with chalk up

Spanish Central: Translation of chalk up

Nglish: Translation of chalk up for Spanish Speakers

Comments on chalk up

What made you want to look up chalk up? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

mot juste

Listen to the pronounciation of mot juste

the exactly right word or phrasing

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Pass the Little Ribbons: A Pasta Word Quiz

  • rotelle pasta
  • Match the pasta to its meaning in English: Rotelle
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Dictionary Devil

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games