scope

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈskōp 

1

: intention, object

2

: space or opportunity for unhampered motion, activity, or thought

3

: extent of treatment, activity, or influence

4

: range of operation: such as

a

: the range of a logical operator : a string in predicate calculus that is governed by a quantifier

b

: a grammatical constituent that determines the interpretation of a predicate or quantifier

scope

2 of 4

noun (2)

1

: any of various instruments for viewing: such as

a

: microscope

b

: telescope

c

: a telescope mounted on a firearm for use as a sight

d

: endoscope

2

: horoscope

scope

3 of 4

verb

scoped; scoping

transitive verb

1

: to look at especially for the purpose of evaluation

—usually used with out

Eunice and I … strutted down the aisles, pretending we were looking for somewhere to sit. Really we were just scoping the place out to see who was there.

—Helene Cooper

Wherever you go, scope out the situation carefully before you take off your dog's leash.

—Donna-Lynn Musgrave

It abuts Wagner Park, where at twilight people watch softball and scope out the local talent.

—Rob Spillman

2

a

: to view (something) with a telescope

… atop a small hill that once held a mortar battery, two urban park rangers and twenty-five or so shivering visitors scoped the sky.

—Ian Frazier

If scoping the stars isn't your thing, the ship also offers a rich array of on-board speakers, wine tastings, golf simulations and a casino to keep you busy.

—The Plainsman (Auburn University, Alabama)

b

: to examine with an endoscope and especially an arthroscope

Players on every pro team have been scoped, mostly their knees (about 80%) but also their shoulders, elbows, wrists.

—Kostya Kennedy

He went to the hospital with the thought that the knee would be scoped, a simple procedure, and he would be back in the lineup in about 10 days.

—Leigh Montville

3

: to equip with a scope

a scoped rifle

-scope

4 of 4

noun combining form

: means (such as an instrument) for viewing or observing

endoscope

spectroscope

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• ambit
• amplitude
• breadth
• compass
• confines
• dimension(s)
• extent
• range
• reach
• realm
• sweep
• width

Choose the Right Synonym for scope

range, gamut, compass, sweep, scope, orbit mean the extent that lies within the powers of something (as to cover or control).

range is a general term indicating the extent of one's perception or the extent of powers, capacities, or possibilities.

the entire range of human experience

gamut suggests a graduated series running from one possible extreme to another.

a performance that ran the gamut of emotions

compass implies a sometimes limited extent of perception, knowledge, or activity.

your concerns lie beyond the narrow compass of this study

sweep suggests extent, often circular or arc-shaped, of motion or activity.

the book covers the entire sweep of criminal activity

scope is applicable to an area of activity, predetermined and limited, but somewhat flexible.

as time went on, the scope of the investigation widened

orbit suggests an often circumscribed range of activity or influence within which forces work toward accommodation.

within that restricted orbit they tried to effect social change

Examples of scope in a Sentence

Noun (1)

the company's scope of operations now spans two continents

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The finding, in a 6-3 ruling issued on Thursday, could expand the scope of damages in cases in which plaintiffs were previously barred from recovering money for infringement that occurred more than three years before the filing of a lawsuit. —Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 May 2024

The sheer scope of the storytelling and the sophisticated world-building is awe-inspiring on the big screen. —Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2024

But as the scope of the event has increased, so has the level of food insecurity in both the country and the Valley, especially in recent years. —Dylan Wickman, The Arizona Republic, 9 May 2024

The full scope of how many people are injured or die in Texas jails because of these problems will likely never be known, Gundu said. —Nichole Manna, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 May 2024

While bringing the surveillance under its authority, Congress has helped to steadily expand the scope of the surveillance to encompass a new slate of threats, from cybercrime and drug trafficking to arms proliferation. —Dell Cameron and William Turton, WIRED, 8 May 2024

Kaplan and Parkins believe this reflects the broadening scope of roles within NBA organizations, stretching from data analytics to film scouting to draft preparation. —Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2024

But Lyons must seriously consider downsizing the scope of Cal’s department. —Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 3 May 2024

The production’s size and scope rivaled that of a small war. —Marco Della Cava, USA TODAY, 25 Jan. 2024

Verb

In a scene reminiscent of one in Twain, Jim suggests that Huck slip away for a while, in a feminine disguise, to scope the happenings onshore. —Lauren Michele Jackson, The New Yorker, 26 Mar. 2024

Psilocybin’s effects on cognition and creativity: A scoping review. —Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2024

The report tracked the impacts of climate policies on state transportation funding by calculating revenue losses based on the Air Resources Board 2022 scoping plan, which set a sweeping policy framework to achieve decarbonization across polluting sectors. —Ari Plachta, Sacramento Bee, 1 Apr. 2024

But really, there’s no need to waste time scoping them out — start with the Trendy Queen Oversized Sweatshirt, which is currently topping charts in the Women's Fashion Hoodies and Sweatshirts category. —Alyssa Grabinski, Peoplemag, 4 Mar. 2024

Animal Control officers are continuing to scope North Kenyon Street and the area around the east-side neighborhood where Willie Mundine was attacked by two dogs. —Sarah Nelson, The Indianapolis Star, 31 Jan. 2024

The Barrier Islands of Lower Cape MORE FOR YOU The eastern reaches of Cape Cod serve as a crucial haven for a massive array of resident and migratory shorebirds, and the Lower Cape is a top spot for scoping them out. —Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2024

The city will hold a scoping meeting for the public to weigh in on what the environmental impact report should address on Wednesday, Feb. 21 at City Hall. —Michael Slaten, Orange County Register, 25 Feb. 2024

An online scoping questionnaire is available on the DNR’s Lake of the Woods webpage – mndnr.gov/lakeofthewoods – through Friday, March 15. —Brad Dokken, Twin Cities, 15 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Italian scopo purpose, goal, from Greek skopos; akin to Greek skeptesthai to watch, look at — more at spy

Noun (2)

-scope

Verb

perhaps from scope entry 2

Noun combining form

New Latin -scopium, from Greek -skopion; akin to Greek skeptesthai

First Known Use

Noun (1)

circa 1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1872, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1955, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing scope

• scope out
• spotting scope

Kids Definition

scope

1 of 3 noun

ˈskōp 

1

: space or opportunity for action or thought

full scope for expression

2

: area or amount included, reached, or viewed : range

a subject broad in scope

scope

2 of 3 noun

: any of various instruments for viewing: as

a

: microscope

b

: telescope entry 1

c

: oscilloscope

-scope

3 of 3 combining form

: means for viewing : instrument for viewing

kaleidoscope

Etymology

Noun

from Italian scopo "aim, purpose, goal," from Greek skopos "watcher, goal, aim" — related to bishop, episcopal, horoscope see Word History at bishop

Noun

by shortening

Combining form

derived from Greek skopos "watcher, goal, aim"

Medical Definition

scope

noun

ˈskōp 

: any of various instruments (as an arthroscope, endoscope, or microscope) for viewing or observing

scope transitive verb

scoped; scoping