score
score — verb
1. to achieve one or more points in a sport or competitive game by sending a ball o
to achieve one or more points in a sport or competitive game by sending a ball or puck into the designated scoring area.
Gita scored the winning goal in the final minute of the match.
score + noun (goal/point/run) in sports context
The team did not score at all during the first half of the game.
intransitive: score without a direct object
Otis scored three points in the last quarter to tie the basketball game.
A player can score a goal from almost anywhere on the field if the angle is right.
Eshe scored twice in her first hockey match and the crowd cheered loudly.
- miss
failing to score when attempting
文法句型
score + noun (goal/point/run)
score (intransitive)
用法筆記
In sports commentary, this sense is frequently used without an object (e.g. 'The home team has yet to score.'). Common objects include 'goal', 'point', 'run', 'touchdown', and 'basket'.
常見錯誤
2. to earn a specific numerical result or letter grade when sitting for a test or e
to earn a specific numerical result or letter grade when sitting for a test or exam.
Nadia scored 92 on her maths final and was thrilled with the result.
score + number + on + [test]
The student scored the highest marks in the entire school in English literature.
Tomás scored well on the science exam after weeks of careful study.
You need to score at least 60 percent to pass this certification test.
Hamza scored a perfect grade on his driving test last Thursday morning.
- fail
to not reach the required score
文法句型
score + number + on + test/exam
用法筆記
Subject is always a person taking the test. The score can be a number, a percentage, or a letter grade. Frequently followed by 'on' or 'in' to name the test or subject.
常見錯誤
3. to judge a test, exam, or piece of work and decide how many points it is worth,
to judge a test, exam, or piece of work and decide how many points it is worth, assigning a final mark or grade.
The teacher spent the whole weekend scoring the final exam papers for her class.
score + [test/exam/paper] as direct object
Each essay is scored on a scale from one to ten by two independent readers.
passive: be scored on [a scale]
Yael scored the spelling quizzes and gave each child written feedback on their progress.
A computer program scores the multiple-choice section of the test automatically.
文法句型
score + test/exam
score + student's work
用法筆記
Subject is the person (or system) assigning the marks, not the test-taker. Distinguish from sense 2: sense 2 is about receiving a score; sense 3 is about giving a score.
常見錯誤
4. to track and write down the scores earned by each team or player during a sporti
to track and write down the scores earned by each team or player during a sporting event, updating the tally as play progresses.
My uncle volunteered to score for the local tennis tournament again this summer.
score (intransitive) — keep score for an event
The person who scores at a boxing match must watch every round very carefully.
Henry scored for the team while the others played the match on Saturday.
Can you score this round? I need to step off the field for a moment.
- keep score
the phrasal equivalent; more common in conversation
- record
more formal; not specific to games
- tally
implies a running count, usually on paper
文法句型
score (intransitive) — keep a record of points
用法筆記
This sense is always intransitive — the object is the game or event, not the points themselves. The person doing this is called a 'scorekeeper' or 'scorer'. Frequently used in amateur sports settings.
常見錯誤
5. to achieve a positive result in a particular undertaking or gain an advantage —
to achieve a positive result in a particular undertaking or gain an advantage — for example, landing a business deal, a political win, or a personal triumph.
The company scored a big success with its new smartphone launch in Tokyo.
score + noun (success/victory/deal)
Mia scored a major advantage in the negotiation by offering an early discount.
The young director scored with her debut film, winning two awards at the festival.
Takeshi scored a contract with a large hotel chain after months of hard work.
- fail
to not achieve the desired result
文法句型
score + noun (success/victory/hit)
score (intransitive) — succeed
用法筆記
This figurative sense is common in business, entertainment, and competitive situations. It often appears in fixed collocations such as 'score a hit', 'score a success', or 'score a victory'. The intransitive use ('score with something') is more informal.
常見錯誤
6. to get or obtain something, especially something desirable or difficult to find
to get or obtain something, especially something desirable or difficult to find — for example, tickets, a seat, or a bargain in a shop.
Élise scored two front-row tickets to the concert before they sold out completely.
informal: score + desirable object (tickets/seats)
Mark scored a great deal on a used bicycle from a neighbour moving away.
My sister scored a free sample of the new perfume at the department store today.
The reporter scored an exclusive interview with the famous author before the book launch.
Henry scored a corner table at the busy restaurant without a reservation.
文法句型
score + noun (ticket/item/object)
用法筆記
This is an informal sense, common in everyday conversation but not appropriate in formal writing. The object is typically something desirable or hard to obtain. The sibling sense 7 is a more specific, illegal-drug-related sub-sense of this meaning.
常見錯誤
7. to obtain illegal drugs, usually by buying them
to obtain illegal drugs, usually by buying them
Andrei scored some marijuana from a friend in the next town.
score + object (drug type)
Zuri was worried that her cousin was trying to score in the park after dark.
intransitive: trying to score
The detective watched a man score heroin in the alley behind the bar.
Kian scored enough painkillers from the dealer to last a full week.
The film shows teenagers who try to score before every school party.
文法句型
score + object (drug)
score (no object)
用法筆記
This sense appears mainly in informal speech about drug culture. The direct object is always an illegal drug or a colloquial reference to one. An intransitive use ('to score') is also common without specifying the substance.
常見錯誤
8. to sleep with a person you have only just met, especially at a party or social e
to sleep with a person you have only just met, especially at a party or social event
Eric bragged to his friends that he had scored at the club the night before.
intransitive: had scored at [location]
Shanti rolled her eyes when her roommate claimed to have scored at the wedding reception.
The older villagers disapproved of young people trying to score at the summer festival.
Jude's friends teased him for spending the whole night trying to score instead of dancing.
The documentary explored how young men compete to see who can score the most times.
- hook up
similar register, slightly broader — can mean any casual romantic or sexual encounter
- sleep with
less crude, more neutral in register
文法句型
score (no object)
score with + someone
用法筆記
This sense is very informal and can be considered crude. It typically refers to casual sexual encounters with new partners and is almost never used in formal or polite conversation.
常見錯誤
9. to mark a hard surface by cutting or scratching it with a sharp object
to mark a hard surface by cutting or scratching it with a sharp object
The children scored the wooden table with their toy knives while playing pirates.
score + surface + with + tool
Xiu scored her initials into the oak tree with a pocket knife.
score + pattern + into + surface
The potter scored the clay bowl before attaching the handle to make it stick.
Someone scored the glass tabletop while moving the sofa across the room.
The baker scored the bread in a crisscross pattern before putting it in the oven.
文法句型
score + object + into/on + surface
score + object (surface)
用法筆記
This sense can describe either deliberate marking (scoring initials, scoring clay for adhesion, scoring bread before baking) or accidental damage (scratching a surface while moving furniture). When used deliberately, the tool is usually sharp or pointed.
常見錯誤
10. to notate or adapt a musical work so that each instrument or voice has a part to
to notate or adapt a musical work so that each instrument or voice has a part to play in a performance
Christopher scored the piano sonata for a small chamber orchestra.
score + existing piece + for + instruments
The composer was hired to score the film for a full symphony orchestra.
score + [film/movie]
Linh scored the traditional folk melody for two violins and a cello.
Sven scored the choir arrangement so each voice part had its own melody line.
The music teacher asked the students to score a simple tune for flute and piano.
- arrange
broader term; can mean adapting existing music without specifying notation
- orchestrate
specifically means arranging for an orchestra
- compose
means creating original music, not necessarily notating it for specific instruments
文法句型
score + piece + for + instruments/voices
score + [film]
常見錯誤
score — noun
1. Points, goals, or runs earned by players or teams in a sporting contest, shown a
Points, goals, or runs earned by players or teams in a sporting contest, shown as numbers that determine who wins.
The final score of the basketball game was 102 to 98.
collocation: final score
Rachel kept track of the score on her phone during the whole match.
With a score of 3–0, the home team advanced to the next round.
The referee announced the score after each goal in the final.
Lien checked the score on the stadium screen before half-time.
用法筆記
Often paired with 'keep' or 'track' (keep score, track the score) and with 'final' (final score).
2. The points or grade awarded to a student on a test, exam, or assignment, reflect
The points or grade awarded to a student on a test, exam, or assignment, reflecting how well they performed.
Christopher got a perfect score on his maths exam this morning.
collocation: perfect score
Students with a score above 80 percent can join the advanced class next term.
Tanvi was disappointed with her score on the history quiz last week.
The average score for the science test was 72 out of 100.
Élise studied hard to bring her score up from C to B on an exam.
用法筆記
Often used with words that describe the level of achievement: 'perfect score,' 'high score,' 'low score,' or 'passing score.'
常見錯誤
3. a written or printed version of a musical piece that shows the notes for each in
a written or printed version of a musical piece that shows the notes for each instrument or voice part to be played or sung together.
The pianist placed the score on the stand and began to play.
Ryo bought the full score of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony at the shop.
collocation: full score
The conductor followed the score carefully during the orchestra rehearsal.
Salma shared a digital copy of the score with all the choir members.
The music teacher handed out the score for a new piano piece to the class.
- sheet music
a more general term for printed music, not always covering all instrument parts
- musical notation
the system of written symbols; more technical
- part
the music for a single instrument or voice, not the whole piece
用法筆記
A 'full score' shows parts for all instruments; a 'piano score' is a simplified version for just the piano.
4. the specially composed music that accompanies a film, play, television show, or
the specially composed music that accompanies a film, play, television show, or video game to create a particular mood or atmosphere.
John Williams composed the score for the Star Wars films decades ago.
The film's main score won an award for best original music that year.
collocation: original score
Paloma listened to the score from her favourite movie on repeat all evening.
The documentary's slow piano score helped capture the sadness of the story.
Adina bought the soundtrack album because she loved the film's orchestral score.
- soundtrack
broader term that includes any audio in a film, not just the composed music
- theme music
a recurring melody associated with a film or character, not the entire score
用法筆記
Often used with 'compose' or 'write' (compose the score, write the score), and distinguished from 'soundtrack' which may include existing songs as well.
常見錯誤
5. the number 20, or a group or amount of approximately twenty people or things.
the number 20, or a group or amount of approximately twenty people or things.
Three score years ago, my grandfather left Ireland for a new life in Canada.
pattern: a score = 20, rarely used in modern English
The old text mentions a score of different bird species found on the island.
"Four score and seven years ago" opens Abraham Lincoln's most famous speech.
The farmer counted a score of sheep in the field before locking the gate.
用法筆記
This use of 'score' to mean 20 is found mainly in older or formal writing, such as historical speeches, the Bible, and classic literature. In everyday modern English, people say 'twenty' instead.
常見錯誤
6. used in the fixed plural form 'scores of' before a plural noun to refer to a lar
used in the fixed plural form 'scores of' before a plural noun to refer to a large but indefinite number of people or things — for example, scores of volunteers arriving to help, or scores of books on a single topic.
Scores of volunteers came to help clean up the beach after the storm.
pattern: scores of + plural noun
Ravindra has read scores of books on ancient history over the years.
Scores of people lined the streets to watch the parade go by.
Amihan had tried scores of different hairstyles before finding one she liked.
Scores of fish swam past the reef as we watched from the boat.
- few
used in phrases like 'a few people' to indicate a small number
文法句型
scores of + plural countable noun
用法筆記
Always used in the fixed plural form 'scores' (never 'score') followed by 'of' and a plural countable noun. Not used with singular or uncountable nouns. Similar to 'dozens of' but often suggests a slightly larger quantity.
常見錯誤
7. used in the fixed expressions 'on that score' or 'on this score' to refer back t
used in the fixed expressions 'on that score' or 'on this score' to refer back to a specific subject or matter that was just brought up in conversation.
Mateo assured us he had the money, and we had no worries on that score.
fixed phrase: on that score
The flat is small, but on that score we plan to move next year.
Kwame said he would finish the report by Friday, so I felt calm on that score.
There were concerns about the deadline, but everyone agreed on that score after the meeting.
The new manager seems capable, and on this score the team has no complaints.
- on that matter
more general and slightly less formal; not fixed as a phrase
- on that front
used for ongoing situations or progress reports; more informal in tone
- regarding that issue
more explicit and formal; useful when clarity is needed
文法句型
on that score
on this score
用法筆記
Virtually always used in the prepositional phrases 'on that score' or 'on this score.' The phrase functions as an adverbial connector, linking back to a topic already mentioned. Not used with other determiners (e.g. 'on a score').