1
as in to attribute
to explain (something) as being the result of something else
let's chalk up her weird behavior to simple nervousness
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in to achieve
to obtain (as a goal) through effort
chalked up a record in singles tennis that is likely to stand for a long time
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of chalk up
However, seeing the obviously unwell Jane continually fly off the handle is challenging to watch, especially since her behavior is chalked up to bad nerves and a desperate desire to find a man who will save her from herself.
—
Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 18 Mar. 2026
Instead, Vance’s name was left out of the conversation, which Ross chalked up to speakers — a number of whom were elected officials — not wanting to cross the White House.
—Joseph Strauss, Sun Sentinel, 16 Mar. 2026
The tobacco industry, which was a major donor to Trump’s presidential campaign as well as to his White House ballroom, has chalked up a number of wins since his administration took office.
—Sarah Todd, STAT, 13 Mar. 2026
The biggest difference between the regions, most agree, is the talent level, which can simply be chalked up to an area’s population.
—Mitch Stephens, San Francisco Chronicle, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for chalk up
Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 18 Mar. 2026
Instead, Vance’s name was left out of the conversation, which Ross chalked up to speakers — a number of whom were elected officials — not wanting to cross the White House.
—Joseph Strauss, Sun Sentinel, 16 Mar. 2026
The tobacco industry, which was a major donor to Trump’s presidential campaign as well as to his White House ballroom, has chalked up a number of wins since his administration took office.
—Sarah Todd, STAT, 13 Mar. 2026
The biggest difference between the regions, most agree, is the talent level, which can simply be chalked up to an area’s population.
—Mitch Stephens, San Francisco Chronicle, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for chalk up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chalk up
Verb
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Then there's a 61-cent state excise tax and roughly 2 cents attributed to underground storage fees.—
Richard Ramos,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
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The trading card industry is currently enjoying a boom period that Mahan and others attribute to the sudden search for new hobbies amid the Covid-19 lockdowns.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Her early death, after an illness that the father initially contrives to ignore then notices just in time to capture her desperation in a fine sketch, leaves Mimí utterly disoriented, yearning only to achieve a level of self-control and detachment that will spare him their tumultuous struggle.—
Tim Parks,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
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Mexico’s Environmental Ministry confirmed to AP that the goal is to achieve that designation in 2026.—
Ryan Brennan
April 4,
Miami Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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At the start of the year, Jacob Elordi sat on the Jimmy Kimmel sofa to promote Wuthering Heights, wearing a pair of off-white Bottega Veneta loafers that were not quite ballet flats, but ascribed to this hybrid style (though many users compared them to ballet flats online).—
Jack Stanley,
Vogue,
31 Mar. 2026
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Wednesday’s verdict in Los Angeles on the ninth day of jury deliberations shows the difficulty of ascribing how much social media is to blame for youths suffering varying degrees of distress.—
Bloomberg,
Bloomberg,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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However, Eovaldi found his groove, and the Rangers went on to win their second straight over the Mariners, 3-2, at Globe Life Field.—
Lawrence Dow,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Apr. 2026
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Given Southampton had only dropped points from a winning position twice in the previous 21 league games — Portsmouth and Charlton Athletic both rescuing a 1-1 draw apiece — a comeback seemed unlikely.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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His higher calling hit while attaining his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemical engineering and computer science from the University of Illinois and University of Illinois Chicago, says the 61-year-old pastor.—
Denise Crosby,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Apr. 2026
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Of all sports halls of fame, College Football’s is statistically the most difficult to attain.—
Charley Walters,
Twin Cities,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Loopt struggled to gain users, and in 2012 it was acquired by a fintech company.—
Ronan Farrow,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
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Wennberg won a puck battle deep in the Predators’ zone before William Eklund gained possession.—
Curtis Pashelka,
Mercury News,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Dutch firm also makes a deep ultraviolet (DUV) lithography machine.—
Arjun Kharpal,
CNBC,
7 Apr. 2026
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Players can also make requests, but these are more like demands, to leave a team before their contracts are up, via trade.—
Joe Vardon,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Chalk up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chalk%20up. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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