# points

/ˈpɔɪnts/ (US) · /pˈɔɪnts/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/points
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. score in a game

noun · CEFR A1

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

For teachers: 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.

### 2. ideas or arguments

noun · CEFR B1

specific ideas or facts that you mention in a discussion.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. railway track switches

noun · CEFR B2 · British English

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

For teachers: 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.

### 4. theatrical emphasis

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Literary

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

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- Our team has ten points so far.
- The judges awarded extra points to the performers who included original choreography in their routine.
- While the individual players focused on their personal statistics, the coach reminded them that only the total points on the scoreboard would determine their ranking in the national league.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.