English Reference
noun · verb

scope

n. · v.
US /ˈskoʊp/ UK /skˈəʊp/ scope UK spelling Scopes

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate Academic

    n.the range of things that a subject, an organization, or a project deals with.

    n.the extent of the area or subject matter that something deals with or to which it is relevant.

    Simple

    The new law is limited in scope and only applies to large companies.

    In context

    The committee decided that the environmental impact of the new highway fell outside the scope of their current investigation.

    Usage

    Often used with the prepositions 'of' or 'for'.

  2. 02 C1 Advanced Formal

    n.the opportunity or freedom to do something or to be successful.

    n.the opportunity or possibility for unhindered activity or thought.

    Simple

    This new job offers much more scope for using my creative skills.

    In context

    The existing framework leaves little scope for innovation, forcing researchers to adhere to outdated protocols.

    Usage

    Commonly follows 'there is' or 'offers'.

  3. 03 B1 Intermediate

    n.a tool used for looking at things, like a telescope or a part of a gun used for aiming.

    n.any of various instruments for viewing or observing, such as a telescope, microscope, or a sighting device on a firearm.

    Simple

    He looked through the scope of his rifle to see the target more clearly.

    In context

    The technician adjusted the scope to get a better view of the microscopic organisms in the water sample.

  4. 04 C1 Advanced Technical Computing

    n.the part of a computer program where a specific name or piece of data can be used.

    n.the region of program source code in which a given identifier is valid or an object is accessible.

    Simple

    The variable is not recognized because it is outside the scope of this function.

    In context

    Global variables should be used sparingly to avoid conflicts within the local scope of nested functions.

  5. 05 B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    v.to look at or examine something to get a general idea of it.

    v.to assess or investigate something, typically to determine its feasibility or to gather preliminary information.

    Simple

    We need to scope the area before we decide where to build the camp.

    In context

    The team spent the first week scoping the requirements of the project to ensure the budget was realistic.

    Usage

    Often used as the phrasal verb 'scope out'.

Usage scope of the regulations · considerable scope · define scope

Current methods to measure recreational reading aren’t capturing data that reveals the full scope of how Gen Z reads.

The Conversation· 4 Aug 2026

In the TotalEnergies case, the company acknowledged that its own activities result in emissions that pose risks to the environment, but it said emissions from its customers were outside the scope of the law.

The Conversation· 28 Jul 2026

Etymology 1

From Italian scopo (“purpose”), from Latin scopus (“target”), from Ancient Greek σκοπός (skopós), from σκέπτομαι (sképtomai), from Proto-Indo-European *speḱ-. Etymologically related to skeptic and spectrum.

Etymology 2

From Latin scopa.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin ine-pro *speḱ-
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Common
Updated