scope out

verb

scoped out; scoping out; scopes out
US, informal
: to look at (someone or something) especially in order to get information
They scoped out the area before setting up the tent.
Players were scoping out the competition.
He wants to scope out all of the possibilities before deciding what to do.

Examples of scope out in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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One way to scope out an organization’s style vibe is to check its social media accounts or website to see what employees wear. Cathy Bussewitz, Fortune, 7 Aug. 2026 While scoping out the attraction, the little fox ended up slipping into the waterway that propels the ride, leaving the animal treading water while rafts full of concerned parkgoers passed by. Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 6 Aug. 2026 And while those who serve that role at the French Open are exclusively children and teens, Withers was still scoping out their moves. Daniel D'addario, Variety, 4 Aug. 2026 Dwarf mongooses deposit more territorial scent markings when a rival is detected nearby, meanwhile meerkats tend to scent mark near burrows that intruders have scoped out. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 16 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for scope out

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Cite this Entry

“Scope out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scope%20out. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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