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 Azua pitched a complete game against Clemson and held BYU to two runs in six innings, racking up 14 strikeouts in the process. Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 16 Feb. 2026 The score was 49-38 at halftime, with Waddles racking up 15 points. ABC News, 15 Feb. 2026 Eilish, by contrast, has built her Hottest 100 footprint in a far shorter time frame, racking up entries since her breakout years and becoming one of the most successful international artists in the poll’s recent history. Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 24 Jan. 2026 Chambliss has been superb since taking over as a starter three games into this season, racking up 4,180 total yards and 29 touchdowns. CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026 The lighthearted clip quickly resonated with viewers, racking up over 4 million views on Instagram. Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025 Polls showed Wheelock with a wide lead, racking up nearly 83% of the vote, compared with Soukup’s 17%. Rose Evans, Idaho Statesman, 5 Nov. 2025 The mash-up had already been going viral before The White House video, racking up more than 700,000 videos using the audio, and close to a million plays on YouTube since being uploaded in August. Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2025 The video quickly went viral on TikTok, racking up more than 45 million views. Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for racking up
Verb
  • Leonard played with purpose, scoring a total of 37 points in three games, including 31 in the third game of the day, which eliminated the World team.
    Janis Carr, Oc Register, 16 Feb. 2026
  • Despite going 0-2, Wembanyama led the World team in scoring in both games with 14 points in the opener and 19 in the third game.
    Greg Beacham, Twin Cities, 16 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • There’s something so pleasing about smooth, streak-free floors—and the good news is, achieving them doesn’t have to take over your schedule.
    Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 21 Feb. 2026
  • Regardless of whether Arthur Agee and William Gates become the next Jordan — or even the next Isiah Thomas — their lives wind up far more interesting than potential glory, with unexpected developments achieving a profundity few scripts ever could have.
    Eric Farwell, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The pair achieved as much in Gibson’s very first World Cup event, with the duo winning the mixed relay race to secure a spot for the Games.
    Ben Church, CNN Money, 18 Feb. 2026
  • The winning bid for the rare card was placed by venture capitalist AJ Scaramucci, the son of former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci.
    Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Oakland’s leaders envision their town attaining similar big-city status.
    Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2026
  • The monks practice and teach Vipassana meditation, an ancient Indian technique taught by the Buddha as core to attaining enlightenment.
    CBS News, CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Under The Radar sports media, which for years has shot videos for YouTube and been involved in 11-man football competitions, is sponsoring a flag football team gaining attention for its success this year.
    Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2026
  • Nearly a decade after being proposed, Leander's Northline project to give the city a downtown area is gaining momentum.
    Claire Osborn, Austin American Statesman, 21 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Other beauty gurus like Jackie Aina, Aaliyah Jay, Manny MUA, Amrezy, NikkiTutorials, Patrick Starrr, MakeupShayla, and Alissa Ashley, among others, were making waves online and earning their audiences' trust.
    Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 21 Feb. 2026
  • Garland and Boyle also have devoted time and effort to character psychology, to making the members of the Icarus’ crew into recognizable people and not Hollywood stick figures.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 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 22 Feb. 2026.

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