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
Both Harris and Buttigieg are scoping out presidential bids in 2028.
—
Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Twin Cities, 26 Sep. 2025
Once a month, Fort Worth Star-Telegram service team reporter Ella Gonzales will scope out the best deals in Fort Worth for under $25.
—Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Sep. 2025
Within a week of the first phone call, an AEG production specialist was dispatched to Ann Arbor to scope out the scene.
—Brian McCollum, Freep.com, 25 Sep. 2025
Both Harris and Buttigieg are scoping out presidential bids in 2028.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 21 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scope out
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.
Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Twin Cities, 26 Sep. 2025
Once a month, Fort Worth Star-Telegram service team reporter Ella Gonzales will scope out the best deals in Fort Worth for under $25.
—Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Sep. 2025
Within a week of the first phone call, an AEG production specialist was dispatched to Ann Arbor to scope out the scene.
—Brian McCollum, Freep.com, 25 Sep. 2025
Both Harris and Buttigieg are scoping out presidential bids in 2028.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 21 Sep. 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 9 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share