racking up

Definition of racking upnext
present participle of rack up
1
as in scoring
to gain (as points or runs in a game) as credit towards one's total number of points having racked up a huge number of points in the short program, the figure skater would have to have a disastrous long program in order to miss out on a medal

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2

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 racking up And, in a perfectly fitting twist, UConn can cement that status by overcoming a Michigan powerhouse that is racking up historically impressive numbers, hoping to go down as one of the sport's greatest teams itself. CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026 And, in a perfectly fitting twist, UConn can cement that status by overcoming a Michigan powerhouse that is racking up historically impressive numbers, hoping to go down as one of the sport's greatest teams itself. ABC News, 5 Apr. 2026 Videos of seagulls stealing food off plates and beach towels have gone viral, racking up millions of views across social media. Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Mar. 2026 Before this year’s telecast, that movie’s director, Paul Thomas Anderson, had set a record in futility by racking up 11 Oscar nominations without a win, said Sam Adams in Slate. The Week Us, TheWeek, 23 Mar. 2026 Spotify’s interactive iDJ feature, introduced in 2023, has roughly 90 million subscribers using it as of the most recent earnings report, with users racking up over four billion hours of time spent on the app. Trevor Laurence Jockims, CNBC, 22 Mar. 2026 Strictly within the realm of football, Kelce is one of the most recognizable athletes in the country’s most-popular sport after racking up 11 selections to the Pro Bowl and the eighth-most catches (1,080) in NFL history. Andrew Greif, NBC news, 9 Mar. 2026 The safety blossomed during his six seasons with the Steelers, racking up five Pro Bowls and three All-Pros. Miami Herald, 9 Mar. 2026 Kachel said Vank’s signature moment so far with the Plainsmen came in the regular season finale last season, when Vank baffled Western Nebraska Community College with eight innings of shutout ball, scattering three hits while racking up 10 strikeouts. Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 2 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for racking up
Verb
  • The guard earned title game MVP honors, scoring 20 points and showcasing his elite shooting by converting six 3-pointers.
    Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Apr. 2026
  • Both Riley and Bates returned kickoffs in 2024, with Riley scoring a 96-yard touchdown against Utah State.
    Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 7 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Humanity has never built an outpost on a world beyond Earth before, after all, so achieving that grand vision will be a heavy lift.
    Mike Wall, Space.com, 11 Apr. 2026
  • In my view, understanding the obstacles to change is a critical step toward achieving this goal.
    Marie Helweg-Larsen, The Conversation, 10 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • In addition, Ken is an Emmy-award winning broadcaster for Fox Sports’ MLB telecasts.
    Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
  • The Heat is just one loss behind the Hornets and holds the head-to-head tiebreaker over Charlotte after winning the regular-season series 3-1.
    Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • In the photo, Alito has the look of a man attaining his destiny.
    Peter S. Canellos, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026
  • 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
Verb
  • At the western edge of the city, where San Francisco meets the Pacific Ocean, skateboarding is gaining new ground.
    Loureen Ayyoub, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2026
  • Along with other conflicts, terrorist attacks, and the detritus of previous wars, bomb detection and disposal units are gaining far too much experience in dealing with such threats to life and limb as well as learning from the painful examples of others.
    David Szondy April 11, New Atlas, 11 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The new law allows Britain to extend the reach of its criminal jurisdiction to crack down on migrants making the dangerous crossing.
    ABC News, ABC News, 11 Apr. 2026
  • The unofficial queen of the flower crown, Vanessa Hudgens was spotted making her way through the crowd during Coachella 2012.
    Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Racking up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/racking%20up. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.

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