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
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.
Recent Examples of chalk up
Management chalking up the early exit to fatigue from two deep runs and injuries to McDavid, Draisaitl, Zach Hyman, Jason Dickinson, and Adam Henrique, among others.
—
Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2026
But as Presley would later admit, this furiously productive period can’t entirely be chalked up to a burst of divine inspiration; his most fruitful years also ran parallel to his opioid addiction.
—Stuart Berman, Pitchfork, 29 Apr. 2026
Conditions like autoimmune disease, postpartum depression and chronic pain syndromes were too often chalked up to stress or hysteria.
—Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN Money, 19 Apr. 2026
Mamdani chalks up the friendly encounters to these New York ties.
—Sophia Vento, The Hill, 19 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for chalk up
Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2026
But as Presley would later admit, this furiously productive period can’t entirely be chalked up to a burst of divine inspiration; his most fruitful years also ran parallel to his opioid addiction.
—Stuart Berman, Pitchfork, 29 Apr. 2026
Conditions like autoimmune disease, postpartum depression and chronic pain syndromes were too often chalked up to stress or hysteria.
—Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN Money, 19 Apr. 2026
Mamdani chalks up the friendly encounters to these New York ties.
—Sophia Vento, The Hill, 19 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for chalk up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chalk up
Verb
-
The children’s books, which largely attribute poverty in Vietnam to its communist government, also simplify history to play up communist aggression in the civil war—while omitting the extensive role that the United States military played in the conflict.—
H.M.A. Leow,
JSTOR Daily,
7 May 2026
-
According to the complaint, detectives attributed statements to Hardin suggesting the killing was part of a ritual, despite no independent evidence to support that claim.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
The telling is harrowing, but also humorous at times, and achieves an emotional register that had me, essentially, transfixed.—
John Warner,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
-
If Pan American Airways represented, at its height, victory and suavity, the country achieving a kind of European state of grace, then Spirit was the exact opposite—synonymous with the rowdy and the rude at the heart of the American character.—
Doreen St. Félix,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
The group immediate drew praise on social media for not ascribing the cancellation to anything beyond the most obvious factors.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
4 May 2026
-
Russian officials have not identified the source of the drones, but Russia’s defense ministry has ascribed other drone swarms in the Arkhangelsk region to Ukraine.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
The big man, who won the 2016 NBA Championship as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers, previously had his younger sibling under a guardianship, according to TMZ.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Schindler also put down the winning kill in both games for the Knights (16-5, 1-1).—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In a fragmented media world where critical mass is becoming harder to attain, Navarro has become one of media’s most recognizable political talking heads thanks to her two high-profile TV roles.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2026
-
So there are a massive number of worlds out there where life could have evolved and attained sentience and spaceflight capabilities.—
Eric Berger,
ArsTechnica,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
One approach gaining support is to slow the displacement of workers with new taxes on AI services and investments.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
10 May 2026
-
The labor market gained 38,000 courier and messenger jobs in April, representing roughly a third of all positions added in the month.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
The first-stage booster is making its sixth trip to space and will attempt a recovery landing at Landing Zone 40 adjacent the launch pad.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 May 2026
-
Battista, who has been back for a week, is making an immediate impact.—
Paul Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Chalk up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chalk%20up. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
