scope out
phrasal 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
Shortly after that initial conversation, the Yellowstone team visited Chief Joseph Ranch to scope out the estate and its potential.
—
Yasmeen Hamadeh, People.com, 6 Apr. 2025
The latest: Michelin Guide inspectors are already scoping out restaurants in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.
—Chelsea Brasted, Axios, 2 Apr. 2025
After quietly taking over a split-level house in the middle of the night and herding its terrified occupants into a bedroom, the team used their position to scope out a neighborhood market.
—EW.com, 1 Apr. 2025
Targeting Russian assets like aircraft and helicopters helps Ukraine chip away at Moscow's ability to scope out Ukrainian positions, carry out airborne strikes or move troops around.
—Kevin Sabet, Newsweek, 24 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scope out
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Yasmeen Hamadeh, People.com, 6 Apr. 2025
The latest: Michelin Guide inspectors are already scoping out restaurants in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.
—Chelsea Brasted, Axios, 2 Apr. 2025
After quietly taking over a split-level house in the middle of the night and herding its terrified occupants into a bedroom, the team used their position to scope out a neighborhood market.
—EW.com, 1 Apr. 2025
Targeting Russian assets like aircraft and helicopters helps Ukraine chip away at Moscow's ability to scope out Ukrainian positions, carry out airborne strikes or move troops around.
—Kevin Sabet, Newsweek, 24 Mar. 2025
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 20 May. 2025.
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