scouted; scouting; scouts
1
: to explore an area to obtain information (as about an enemy)
2
a
: to make a search
b
: to work as a talent scout
1
: to observe in order to obtain information or evaluate
2
: to explore in order to obtain information
3
: to find by making a search
plural scouts
1
a
: one sent to obtain information
especially
: a soldier, ship, or plane sent out in war to reconnoiter
c
sports
(1)
: a person sent out to secure firsthand information about the style of play, tactics, and strength of a rival
(2)
: a person sent out to obtain information about players by watching them in action with a view to making recommendations about the acquisition of players
d
2
a
: the act of scouting
b
: a scouting expedition : reconnaissance
3
often capitalized
: a member of any of various scouting movements: such as
a
b
4
: individual, person
—used chiefly in the phrase good scout
scouted; scouting; scouts
1
: mock
2
: to reject scornfully
scouted his explanation as a shabby falsehood—
Mark Twain
Mark TwainExamples of scout in a Sentence
Noun
you're a good scout
Verb (2)
the actor's attempt to rationalize his racist comments were roundly scouted by the media
Recent Examples on the Web
Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 25 Oct. 2025
In Atlanta in 2018, young tight end Austin Hooper learned that Paulsen was also doing scouting reports on tight ends who were upcoming draft prospects for the staff and for his agent.
—Jourdan Rodrigue, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Rounding out the judges' table were former Dancing with the Stars pro Sasha Farber, fashion designer Kenneth Barlis and model scout Hannah Edwards.
—Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scout
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Verb
Adelman stopped in to gawk at the scoreboard for a bit, and who knows, maybe to scout for candidates to fill the Nuggets’ 15th roster spot as well.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 25 Oct. 2025
In Atlanta in 2018, young tight end Austin Hooper learned that Paulsen was also doing scouting reports on tight ends who were upcoming draft prospects for the staff and for his agent.
—Jourdan Rodrigue, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Noun
While the department already consists of head of technical recruitment and analysis Maximilian Hahn, sporting director Mark Noble (whose remit is the academy), European scouts Georges Santos and Antonio Tramontano, and first-team scout Adrian Clarke, there is a clear gap at the top.
—Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Rounding out the judges' table were former Dancing with the Stars pro Sasha Farber, fashion designer Kenneth Barlis and model scout Hannah Edwards.
—Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scout
Cite this Entry
“Scout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scout. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
scout
1 of 3 verb1
: to go about and observe in search of information : reconnoiter
2
a
: to make a search
scout about for firewood
b
: to find by searching
scouted up the necessary supplies
scout
2 of 3 noun1
a
: one sent to obtain information and especially to survey in preparation for military action in war
b
: a person who searches for talented newcomers
a baseball scout
2
: the act or an instance of scouting : reconnaissance
3
4
: individual entry 2 sense 2, person
you're a good scout
Etymology
Verb
Middle English scouten "to explore an area for information," from early French escouter "to listen," from Latin auscultare "to listen"
Verb
of Scandinavian origin
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