English Reference

Word

points

US/ˈpɔɪnts/

UK/pˈɔɪnts/

Definitions

01score in a game

A1 · Beginner Plural noun Sports

n. the marks or units you win in a game or sport.

n. numerical units used to track the score or determine the winner in a competition.

“The team won by ten points after a very exciting final minute.”

“The league standings are currently determined by total points, though goal difference remains a critical tie-breaker for the top three positions.”

Synonyms

02ideas or arguments

B1 · Intermediate Plural noun

n. specific ideas or facts that you mention in a discussion.

n. discrete items of information, arguments, or suggestions presented during a discourse.

“She made several good points during the meeting about saving money.”

“The speaker addressed the most contentious points of the proposal first to ensure the audience understood the underlying logic of the changes.”

03railway track switches

B2 · Upper Intermediate Plural noun British English

n. the moving parts of a train track that let a train change lines.

n. movable sections of railway track that allow a train to be diverted from one line to another.

“The train was delayed because of a problem with the points at the station.”

“Engineers were dispatched to repair the frozen points, which had prevented several commuter trains from entering the main terminal during rush hour.”

Usage

Usually plural in this sense.

Synonyms

04theatrical emphasis

C2 · Proficiency Plural noun Theater Technical · Literary

n. strong movements or ways of speaking that actors use to get attention.

n. stylised or exaggerated speech and gestures used by a performer to highlight specific moments or elicit a reaction.

“The old actor was famous for making his points with grand hand gestures.”

“The director cautioned the lead against overplaying his points, fearing that such nineteenth-century theatricality would clash with the play's modern minimalist aesthetic.”

Collocations

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “points” in context.

01. points last

Idioms

Domain

Theater

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
Frequency
Very common
Level
A1 · Beginner
Updated

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English Reference