scope out
phrasal 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
Webb has peered into the early universe, scoped out distant galaxies and stars and even studied the planets in our solar system.
—
Amanda Kooser, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
Production has yet to begin, but sources told Variety that White has been spending time in Thailand scoping out sites.
—Lissete Lanuza Sáenz, StyleCaster, 31 Mar. 2025
Some of their fans got off their phones and took action: scoping out high-profile targets and even killing people.
—James Bandler, ProPublica, 25 Mar. 2025
Still scoping out your options before making your final selection?
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scope out
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Amanda Kooser, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
Production has yet to begin, but sources told Variety that White has been spending time in Thailand scoping out sites.
—Lissete Lanuza Sáenz, StyleCaster, 31 Mar. 2025
Some of their fans got off their phones and took action: scoping out high-profile targets and even killing people.
—James Bandler, ProPublica, 25 Mar. 2025
Still scoping out your options before making your final selection?
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scope out
Cite this Entry
“Scope out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scope%20out. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025.
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