scope out
verb
scoped out; scoping out; scopes out
US, informal
: to look at (someone or something) especially in order to get information
They scoped out the area before setting up the tent.
Players were scoping out the competition.
He wants to scope out all of the possibilities before deciding what to do.
Examples of scope out in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Almost every man in the picture is distracted by what is happening out of the frame — strangers walking by, cars slowing down to scope out the scene.
—
Andrew Durbin, Vulture, 13 Apr. 2026
Once there, scope out the terrain.
—ABC News, 12 Apr. 2026
For example, the Artemis 2 astronauts are scoping out color variations on the lunar surface and looking for flashes on the moon caused by meteoroid strikes.
—Leonard David, Space.com, 6 Apr. 2026
Our expert team here at PCMag is scoping out the Best Deals from Amazon's Spring Sale, and that includes markdowns on premium Apple tech.
—Cierra Cowan, PC Magazine, 29 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for scope out
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Andrew Durbin, Vulture, 13 Apr. 2026
Once there, scope out the terrain.
—ABC News, 12 Apr. 2026
For example, the Artemis 2 astronauts are scoping out color variations on the lunar surface and looking for flashes on the moon caused by meteoroid strikes.
—Leonard David, Space.com, 6 Apr. 2026
Our expert team here at PCMag is scoping out the Best Deals from Amazon's Spring Sale, and that includes markdowns on premium Apple tech.
—Cierra Cowan, PC Magazine, 29 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for scope out
Cite this Entry
“Scope out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scope%20out. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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