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
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
Raleigh, who finished as the American League MVP runner-up last season and set a record for home runs by a catcher and a switch-hitter with 60, chalked up the exchange at home plate to the competitive nature of the WBC.
—Melissa Lockard, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
What doesn’t work, for the most part, can be chalked up to the trial and error process typical for network comedies, which rely on regular fine-tuning to find their best self.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 5 Mar. 2026
Ortega's departure was originally chalked up to scheduling with her Netflix series Wednesday, but the actress has since come out to acknowledge that wasn't the case.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for chalk up
Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 12 Mar. 2026
Raleigh, who finished as the American League MVP runner-up last season and set a record for home runs by a catcher and a switch-hitter with 60, chalked up the exchange at home plate to the competitive nature of the WBC.
—Melissa Lockard, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
What doesn’t work, for the most part, can be chalked up to the trial and error process typical for network comedies, which rely on regular fine-tuning to find their best self.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 5 Mar. 2026
Ortega's departure was originally chalked up to scheduling with her Netflix series Wednesday, but the actress has since come out to acknowledge that wasn't the case.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for chalk up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chalk up
Verb
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In January and early February, prices gradually rose with increases being attributed to winter storms throughout the country and affected fuel shipments.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
The Washington Examiner,
19 Mar. 2026
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And those predictions are slowly becoming reality as companies—especially tech firms—have started to cut sizable chunks of their workforces, attributing the layoffs to AI.—
Jake Angelo,
Fortune,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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At the dinner, Norris spoke about how his politics put him on a path to achieve his life goal in helping youth focus on martial arts with his program Kickstart Kids.—
Brayden Garcia,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
21 Mar. 2026
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And the Zags have achieved that level of success over a generation.—
Thomas Jones,
Austin American Statesman,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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And to dust off some golden-oldie phraseology that fans, friends and media often ascribe to great athletes who’ve made epic falls, Ilia Malinin will be back.—
Steve Buckley,
New York Times,
14 Feb. 2026
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However, the benefits the city has ascribed to data center development have not assuaged concerns about potential environmental harm.—
Devan Patel,
Mercury News,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Combined with 66 high school recruits signed during the same period, the Aggies have essentially turned over the roster while winning 19 of 26 games.—
Tony Catalina,
Austin American Statesman,
18 Mar. 2026
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Rookie center Maxime Raynaud had a career-high 32 points and nine rebounds for the Kings (18-52), who had won four of their last five games.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Schools recognized as exemplary high achievers both attain academic achievement and also ensure historically underserved student groups are maintaining or increasing academic progress, according to the California Department of Education.—
Lauren Chapman,
Sacbee.com,
12 Mar. 2026
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To attain uniform coverage, apply half of the lime in an east-west direction and the remainder in a north-south direction.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Digital marketing Careers in digital marketing and agricultural communications also are gaining traction, with consumers increasingly being interested in where their food comes from.—
Metro Creative Services,
Boston Herald,
16 Mar. 2026
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Åberg has put on a ball-striking clinic through three days and leads the field in driving distance, strokes gained tee to green and average proximity to the hole.—
Justin Ray,
New York Times,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The original lawsuit by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the other groups was over changes made to COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for children and pregnant women.—
Lisa Schencker,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Mar. 2026
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Bella Hadid followed suit, while also making appearances in the Italian city of design, styling a brown suede jacket with straight-leg denim and pointy boots, leaning into her now-infamous cowgirl-with-a-twist aesthetic.—
Kristina Rutkowski,
Vogue,
17 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Chalk up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chalk%20up. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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