# scores

/ˈskɔɹz/ (US) · /skˈɔːz/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. points in a game

noun · CEFR A2

the number of points each team or player has in a competition.

For teachers: the recorded points or goals achieved by participants in a competitive event.

- The final scores were posted on the board after the match ended.
- Despite the high scores recorded in the first half, the game slowed down significantly as both teams adopted more defensive strategies.

### 2. a large number

noun · CEFR B2 · Literary

a very large number of people or things.

For teachers: a large but unspecified number; literally multiples of twenty, but used figuratively for any significant quantity.

- Scores of people waited outside the shop for the new phone to go on sale.
- Scores of protesters gathered in the central plaza, demanding immediate legislative reform following the controversial announcement.

### 3. musical compositions

noun · CEFR B2

the written music for a film, play, or orchestra.

For teachers: the written or printed representations of musical compositions, particularly those for films or theatrical productions.

- He has written the musical scores for several famous Hollywood movies.
- The conductor spent weeks studying the original scores to ensure the orchestra captured the subtle nuances intended by the composer.

### 4. drug purchase

noun · CEFR C1 · Slang · British English

a small bag of illegal drugs, often worth a specific amount of money.

For teachers: a successful purchase of illicit drugs; specifically used in British slang for a twenty-pound bag of cannabis.

- The police were watching the corner where the local scores usually happened.
- The documentary explored the underground economy of the city, focusing on how small-scale scores were managed in residential areas.

## Examples

- Scores of people waited in line for the new phone.
- After the storm, scores of volunteers arrived to help the residents clean up the debris from the streets.
- Despite the early hour, scores of protesters had already gathered outside the embassy, carrying banners and chanting slogans that could be heard several blocks away.

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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.