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
Relevance
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
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
The result of any one baseball game can be traced back to pitching changes or lineup decisions – but it can also be chalked up to an extra inch of break on a pitch or a millisecond of hesitation on a swing.
—Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for chalk up
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
The result of any one baseball game can be traced back to pitching changes or lineup decisions – but it can also be chalked up to an extra inch of break on a pitch or a millisecond of hesitation on a swing.
—Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for chalk up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chalk up
Verb
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Other analysts, cited in publications like Al Jazeera, have also attributed the apparent accuracy of Iranian strikes to its use of China's BeiDou.—
Matthew Chin,
CNBC,
26 Mar. 2026
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The multi-stakeholder group attributed the low figure to issues around price and availability, as well as lingering questions about the sustainability of current versions, which can carry impacts on land, communities, biodiversity and soil health that haven’t been fully measured.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The expectation is to win and achieve goals like the team did in 2024.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
28 Mar. 2026
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But those tactical successes don't necessarily translate to achieving all the president's strategic aims.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
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Economists generally have calculated that whatever economic growth could be ascribed to the change would be washed out by the revenue loss from inflation-indexing only new purchases, and utterly swamped by the cost of indexing all holdings, past and future.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Frederiksen's Social Democrats received the most votes and were seen winning 38 seats in Denmark's 179-seat parliament, results published early Wednesday showed, compared with 50 seats four years earlier.—
Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
25 Mar. 2026
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Vargas unveiled Ohtani's mural in 2024, followed by another honoring Fernando Valenzuela in 2025, both years when the Dodgers won the World Series.—
Rina Nakano,
CBS News,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Last week, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing several unnamed sources, that Kalshi had secured a $22 billion valuation in its latest round of venture capital funding, while rival Polymarket is reportedly hoping to attain a similar valuation.—
Jared Perlo,
NBC news,
23 Mar. 2026
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Few sandwiches in the pantheon of great sandwiches have attained the status of the Italian combo.—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Chaiwalas, or street tea venders, have long been taken as emblems of the small-scale entrepreneurialism by which uneducated Indians can gain subsistence, and, in theory, something more.—
Nathan Heller,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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The Tea Party protests that began to erupt in 2009 among conservatives opposed to President Barack Obama were credited with boosting Republican turnout in the 2010 midterms, when the GOP gained 63 seats and control of the House of Representatives in a red wave.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Mars may try to push you into making an overly ambitious to-do list, so be sure to let the Moon in that more peaceful sector remind you to take a break!—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
31 Mar. 2026
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But what is ultimately to be gained by making this a hammy, Neil Simon-esque romp?—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Chalk up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chalk%20up. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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