chalk up

verb

chalked up; chalking up; chalks up

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.
In time, many Western observers and government officials, too, chalked up the attack as a win for nonproliferation, hailing the strike as an audacious but necessary step to prevent Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein from building a nuclear arsenal. Jeffrey Fields, The Conversation, 24 June 2025 Several of the commissioners chalked up the lack of attendees to indifference, lack of interest or outright approval of lower density. Nick Rosenberger, Idaho Statesman, 11 June 2025 Some of his issues were chalked up to needing new eyeglasses, his wife, Ali, said, according to The Daily Mail. Cara Lynn Shultz, People.com, 3 June 2025 Bonds chalks up interest to Witt being one of the brightest stars in baseball. Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 22 May 2025 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 4 Jul. 2025.

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