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
Deadline hears that there were back-to-back Zoom calls between the BBC, BAFTA, and other parties on Monday morning, with those involved scoping out a statement and a plan of action.
—
Jake Kanter, Deadline, 23 Feb. 2026
Vincent Bui, who works with the shop, told the outlet that the suspects appeared to have scoped out the location beforehand.
—Ashley Carnahan, FOXNews.com, 23 Feb. 2026
For me, shopping at Trader Joe’s is always a mix of grabbing items that are on my shopping list as well as scoping out new products that are always popping up throughout the store.
—Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 16 Feb. 2026
Instead of waiting for a squad car to arrive, officers will now be able to dispatch a drone to scope out the scene, hovering over citizens in need like a high-tech vulture.
—Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for scope out
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Jake Kanter, Deadline, 23 Feb. 2026
Vincent Bui, who works with the shop, told the outlet that the suspects appeared to have scoped out the location beforehand.
—Ashley Carnahan, FOXNews.com, 23 Feb. 2026
For me, shopping at Trader Joe’s is always a mix of grabbing items that are on my shopping list as well as scoping out new products that are always popping up throughout the store.
—Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 16 Feb. 2026
Instead of waiting for a squad car to arrive, officers will now be able to dispatch a drone to scope out the scene, hovering over citizens in need like a high-tech vulture.
—Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 4 Feb. 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 4 Mar. 2026.
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