scouting

noun

scout·​ing ˈskau̇-tiŋ How to pronounce scouting (audio)
Synonyms of scoutingnext
1
: the action of one that scouts
2
often Scouting : the activities of various national and worldwide organizations for youth directed to developing character, citizenship, and individual skills

Examples of scouting in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Getting the call right would earn you a scouting bonus over the other defensive picks. — Holly Shand, New York Times, 2 July 2026 Can the team deploy resources to upgrade scouting and player development? — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026 Setting aside the merits of Padres scouting and player development, the price of big-league successes have been felt in the farm system. — Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 July 2026 Sullivan addressed what his kind of draft prospects look like back at the NFL scouting combine in February. — David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for scouting

Word History

First Known Use

1590, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of scouting was in 1590

Rhymes for scouting

See All Rhymes for scouting

Browse Nearby Words

scouther
scouting
scoutingly
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Cite this Entry

“Scouting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scouting. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

scouting

noun
scout·​ing ˈskau̇t-iŋ How to pronounce scouting (audio)
1
: the action of one that scouts
2
often capitalized : the activities of the various Boy Scout and Girl Scout groups

More from Merriam-Webster on scouting

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for scouting

Nglish: Translation of scouting for Spanish Speakers

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