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

Synonyms of chalk up

• attribute
• ascribe

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

Studio executives and theater operators chalk up the improved prospects in part to a better and more plentiful crop of bankable movies that are bringing people back to the multiplex. —Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026

Sophomore right fielder Rebecca Coffey, who will likely split starting pitching duties this season with Akins, chalked up a two-run single in the bottom of the sixth as the difference-maker for Hampshire. —Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026

Washington said Lebanon is not included in the ceasefire, and US Vice President JD Vance chalked up the hostilities to a misunderstanding. —J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 8 Apr. 2026

Anthony, who went 2 for 5 with two runs scored in the loss, said there isn’t an injury impacting his throwing, and Cora and Anthony chalked up it more to a mechanical issue gripping the baseball than anything else. —Greg Dudek, Boston Herald, 7 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for chalk up

• backup
• blowup
• breakup
• buildup
• checkup
• cleanup
• holdup
• hookup
• lineup
• lockup
• makeup
• markup