scout
gb/skˈaʊt/ us/skˈaʊt/
B1
English
~ 8800
körülnéz, felderít, feltérképez, tehetségkutató, játékosmegfigyelő, cserkész, felderítő, tehetségeket keres, játékosokat megfigyel, tehetségeket kutat fel, körülnézés, megvetően elutasít, gúnyosan elvet
VERB
B2
1
Usage pattern:
to scout [an area] for [something/someone]
We spent the afternoon scouting the neighborhood for a bigger apartment.
A délutánt azzal töltöttük, hogy körülnéztünk a környéken egy nagyobb lakás után.
The production team is scouting locations for the new commercial this week.
A stáb ezen a héten helyszíneket keres az új reklámfilmhez.
Before the hike, I scouted the trail to make sure it was safe.
She scouted the city for cheap but clean hostels.
A few of us went ahead to scout the route before the rest of the group arrived.
Learner examples
We need to scout the city for a new office.
Körül kell néznünk a városban egy új iroda után.
He is scouting the shops for a cheap laptop.
Körülnéz a boltokban egy olcsó laptop után.
Let’s scout the park to find a quiet place to sit.
They scouted the beach for a good place to swim.
She will scout the area before the rest of the team comes.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"scout something up"* by copying patterns from verbs like *"pick up"*. Use *"scout"* with an object or preposition instead, for example: *"scout the area"*, *"scout around"*, or *"scout for an apartment"*.
Meaning
Search an area to find something
Collocations
scout around
|scout for
|scout out
|scout the area
|scout the city
Synonyms
search (more general; does not strongly suggest moving from place to place while looking)
Antonyms
ignore (to choose not to look for or pay attention to something at all)
Themes
daily life
|travel
|work
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
to go to different places and look carefully because you want to find something or someone
To move around and look carefully in one or more places in order to find something or someone, especially in preparation for a later activity.
NOUN
B2
2
Usage pattern:
[someone] works as a scout for [a team/organization]
A scout from a top European club came to watch the game.
Egy európai élklub játékosmegfigyelője jött el megnézni a mérkőzést.
She works as a talent scout for a major film studio.
Tehetségkutatóként dolgozik egy nagy filmstúdiónál.
Several scouts were in the audience, looking for the next big star.
The singer was discovered by a record-label scout.
Baseball scouts travel constantly to find promising young players.
Learner examples
A scout from a big team saw him play.
Egy nagy csapat játékosmegfigyelője látta őt játszani.
She wants to be a talent scout when she is older.
Ha nagyobb lesz, tehetségkutató szeretne lenni.
The scout wrote a report about the new player.
Scouts came to the show to find new actors.
He got his job after a scout saw his video online.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse *"scout"* (the person) with *"scouting"* (the activity). Say *"She is a scout"* for the person, and *"She does a lot of scouting"* for the activity.
Meaning
Person who finds new talent
Collocations
talent scout
|football scout
|baseball scout
|professional scout
|scout for the team
Synonyms
recruiter (more common in business and office work; less specific to sports or entertainment)
Antonyms
candidate (plays the opposite role in recruitment: a candidate is the person being looked at, while a scout is the person doing the looking)
Themes
sports
|work
|entertainment
|arts_entertainment
Definition
a person who looks for good new players, artists, or workers for a team or company
A person whose job is to find and assess talented people, especially athletes, performers, or other specialists, for a team, company, or organization.
NOUN
B1
3
cserkész
B1
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a scout in [a troop/group]
He’s been a scout since he was eight years old.
Nyolcéves kora óta cserkész.
The scouts are selling cookies to raise money for their trip.
A cserkészek sütit árulnak, hogy pénzt gyűjtsenek az útjukra.
Every summer the scouts from our town go to camp together.
Her daughter became a scout to learn camping and first-aid skills.
The scouts wore their uniforms and badges to the ceremony.
Learner examples
My brother is a scout.
A testvérem cserkész.
The scouts went camping in the forest.
A cserkészek táborozni mentek az erdőbe.
She joined the scouts to make new friends.
Scouts learn how to cook outside.
Many scouts help in the local community.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes write *"a scouts"* for one person. Use *"a scout"* for one member and *"scouts"* for more than one.
Meaning
Member of the Scouts organization
Collocations
Boy Scout
|Girl Scout
|Cub Scout
|Scout troop
|Scout camp
Synonyms
guide (in some countries, especially the UK, *Guide* refers to girls in a similar youth organization, not exactly the same as *Scout*)
Antonyms
nonmember (a person who does not belong to the Scouts organization)
Themes
youth
|leisure
|education
|relationships
Definition
a young person who is in the Scouts group, such as a Boy Scout or Girl Scout
A boy or girl, usually a child or teenager, who belongs to the Scouts, a youth organization that teaches outdoor skills, teamwork, and good citizenship.
NOUN
C1
4
felderítő
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] sends out a scout to [do something]
The commander sent a scout ahead to check the road for ambushes.
A parancsnok előreküldött egy felderítőt, hogy megnézze, nincs-e lesállás az úton.
Our scouts reported enemy movement near the river.
A felderítőink ellenséges mozgást jelentettek a folyó közelében.
In the game, you should train a few fast scouts early on.
The cavalry scouts rode out at dawn to survey the valley.
A lone scout returned with news of the approaching army.
Learner examples
The army sent a scout to look at the road.
A hadsereg felderítőt küldött, hogy megnézze az utat.
Their scouts saw the enemy first.
Az ő felderítőik látták meg először az ellenséget.
In this game, a scout moves quickly and can see far.
The scout came back and told them it was safe.
Two scouts walked in front of the main group.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this with the youth meaning and translate *"scout"* as *"Boy Scout"* even in military stories. In war or strategy contexts, *"scout"* usually means a reconnaissance soldier, not a member of the youth organization.
Meaning
Person sent ahead to gather information
Collocations
army scout
|send out scouts
|enemy scout
|mounted scout
|scout patrol
Synonyms
spy (a spy usually works secretly inside enemy areas for a long time, while a scout more often moves ahead of their own group for short missions)
Antonyms
guard (a guard stays in one place to watch or protect, while a scout moves ahead to explore and report back)
Themes
war
|travel
|games
|politics
Definition
a person who goes in front of a group, often in the army, to see what is there and bring back information
A soldier or other person who is sent ahead of the main group to gather information about an enemy, the land, or other conditions.
VERB
C1
5
Usage pattern:
to scout [someone/something] for [a team/organization]
The club is scouting players across South America this season.
A klub ebben a szezonban Dél-Amerika-szerte játékosokat kutat fel.
She travels the country scouting for new comedy talent.
Az egész országot járja, hogy új tehetséges humoristákat kutasson fel.
They regularly scout local universities for promising engineers.
A producer scouted him for a major TV show.
Several agencies are scouting the festival for fresh faces.
Learner examples
Big teams scout young players in schools.
A nagy csapatok az iskolákban keresik a fiatal játékosokat.
The company scouts universities for good students.
A cég tehetséges hallgatókat keres az egyetemeken.
A famous label scouted her after the concert.
He was scouted by a basketball team.
They are scouting for new designers right now.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"scout to"* when they mean *"scout for"*, for example *"They are scouting to new players"*. Use *"scout for"* when you talk about what you want to find: *"They are scouting for new players."*
Meaning
Look for talented people
Collocations
scout players
|scout for talent
|scout new artists
|scout high schools
|scout the market
Synonyms
recruit (focuses on bringing people into a team or company; *scout* is more about finding and evaluating them, sometimes before they are actually recruited)
Antonyms
cut (in sports, to cut a player means to remove them from a team, which is the opposite of scouting them to add them)
Themes
sports
|work
|entertainment
|arts_entertainment
Definition
to look for good new players, artists, or workers for a team or company
To look for and evaluate talented people, especially athletes or performers, who might be suitable for a team, company, or other organization.
NOUN
C1
INFORMAL
6
körülnézés
B1
Usage pattern:
to have a scout around for [something]
I’ll have a quick scout around the office for your notebook.
Gyorsan körülnézek az irodában a jegyzetfüzeted után.
We took a little scout round the market before deciding where to eat.
Kicsit körülnéztünk a piacon, mielőtt eldöntöttük, hol együnk.
Can you do a scout of the storage room and see if there are any spare chairs?
She had a scout around the shops but didn’t find anything she liked.
Let’s have a scout in the garage for some old boxes.
Learner examples
I will have a scout around for your keys.
Körülnézek a kulcsaid után.
Let’s take a quick scout in the kitchen for more cups.
Nézzünk gyorsan körül a konyhában, hátha van még pohár.
He had a scout round the garden for his ball.
We did a little scout before we chose a cafe.
She had a scout in the cupboard for sugar.
Common mistake:
This informal noun use is mainly British. Learners sometimes overuse it in formal writing. In formal or neutral texts, prefer words like *"look"*, *"search"*, or *"inspection"* instead of *"a scout"*.
Meaning
Quick look around to find something
Collocations
have a scout around
|quick scout
|little scout
|a scout round
Synonyms
look (very general; *scout* suggests a more active or slightly more thorough search, usually used in informal speech)
Antonyms
avoidance (choosing not to look or search at all is the opposite of taking a quick scout around)
Themes
daily life
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
a short, quick look in a place to see what you can find
An informal term for a quick search of an area to see what is there or to find something.
VERB
C2
LITERARY
7
Usage pattern:
to scout [an idea/offer] as [foolish/worthless]
In the old play, the nobles scout his warning as mere folly.
A régi színdarabban a nemesek merő ostobaságnak tartva megvetően elutasítják a figyelmeztetését.
The council scouted the proposal as unworthy of serious debate.
A tanács megvetően elvetette a javaslatot, mondván, hogy nem méltó komoly vitára.
Writers of the time often scouted such fears as childish.
His suggestion was scouted as absurd by the critics of the day.
Early scientists were sometimes scouted for challenging religious beliefs.
Learner examples
In this old poem, people scout his idea as foolish.
Ebben a régi versben az emberek ostobaságnak tartva elutasítják az ötletét.
The king scouts the offer and laughs at it.
A király megvetően elutasítja az ajánlatot, és kineveti.
In some classic books, leaders scout new ideas instead of listening.
Her warning is scouted as nonsense in the story.
Older texts may use "scout" to mean reject with scorn.
Common mistake:
Learners almost never need this meaning in modern English and may confuse it with the common "search" meaning. If you see *"scout"* used to mean *"mock"* or *"reject"*, it is likely in older or literary texts.
Meaning
Reject or mock with scorn (archaic)
Collocations
scout an idea
|scout a proposal
|scouted as nonsense
Synonyms
ridicule (modern and more common; clearly means to mock or make fun of something)
Antonyms
praise (to speak well of something, the opposite of rejecting it with mockery)
Themes
literature
|emotions
|communication
Definition
to say very strongly that an idea or offer is foolish or not worth respect (old or literary use)
To reject, dismiss, or treat something with open scorn or contempt.
Grammar
Dictionary form
scout
IPA
GB/skˈaʊt/
US/skˈaʊt/
Syllables & stress
scout (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (scout)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: scout
- Plural: scouts
Verb
- Base: scout
- 3rd Person Singular: scouts
- Present Participle: scouting
- Past: scouted
Word family
Forms
scouts
noun
scouting
verb
scouted
verb
Expressions
Boy Scout
1/bˈɔɪ skˈaʊt/
fixed phrase
Male member of Boy Scouts
a boy or young man who is in the Boy Scouts group
Examples
- He has been a Boy Scout since elementary school.
- The Boy Scouts helped clean up the park on Saturday.
Cub Scout
1/kˈʌb skˈaʊt/
fixed phrase
Young junior Scout member
a young child, usually a boy, who is in a junior group of the Scouts
Examples
- He started as a Cub Scout when he was seven.
- The Cub Scouts went on a short hike with their leaders.
Eagle Scout
1/ˈiɡəl skˈaʊt/
fixed phrase
Highest Boy Scout rank (US)
the highest level a Boy Scout can reach in the United States
Examples
- He became an Eagle Scout after completing a big service project.
- Many employers are impressed when they see Eagle Scout on a résumé.
Girl Scout
1/ɡˈɚl skˈaʊt/
fixed phrase
Female member of Girl Scouts
a girl or young woman who is in the Girl Scouts group
Examples
- The Girl Scouts are selling cookies outside the supermarket.
- Her daughter became a Girl Scout to learn camping skills.
good scout
1/ɡˈʊd skˈaʊt/
idiom
informal
Kind and reliable person
a person who is nice, helpful, and can be trusted (old-fashioned)
Examples
- Thanks for helping me move, you’re a good scout.
- He’s a good scout and is always ready to lend a hand.
location scout
1/loʊkˈeɪʃən skˈaʊt/
fixed phrase
Person who finds filming locations
a person who looks for good places to use in films, TV shows, or photos
Examples
- The location scout spent days driving around the countryside.
- As a location scout, she’s always searching for unusual buildings and streets.
scout around
1/skˈaʊt ɚˈaʊnd/
phrasal verb
Look in different places for something
to go to different places and look because you want to find something, but you have not chosen exactly what yet
Examples
- We’ll scout around for a cheaper hotel later.
- I’ve been scouting around for a used car in good condition.
- Let’s scout around before we decide which gym to join.
Scout camp
1/skˈaʊt kˈæmp/
fixed phrase
Camp organized for Scouts
a camp where Scouts stay together and do activities, often in nature
Examples
- She met many new friends at Scout camp.
- The troop is raising money for Scout camp this summer.
scout for
1/skˈaʊt fɚ/
phrasal verb
Search to find a particular type
to look carefully because you want to find a certain kind of person or thing
Examples
- The agency is scouting for fresh talent this season.
- They’re scouting for a new office location downtown.
- We’re scouting for volunteers to help with the festival.
Scout leader
1/skˈaʊt lˈidɚ/
fixed phrase
Adult who leads Scouts group
an adult who is responsible for a group of Scouts and plans their activities
Examples
- Our Scout leader organized a weekend camping trip.
- The Scout leaders met to plan the year’s program.
scout out
1/skˈaʊt ˈaʊt/
phrasal verb
Check or search a place in advance
to go and look at a place carefully before you use it, so you can find something or see if it is good
Examples
- We need to scout out a good venue for the conference.
- Could you scout out some restaurants for the team dinner?
- They spent the weekend scouting out locations for the film.
Scout troop
1/skˈaʊt tɹˈup/
fixed phrase
Local Scouts group
a group of Scouts from the same area who meet regularly
Examples
- Her Scout troop meets every Thursday evening.
- The two Scout troops joined together for a big campfire.
Scout's honor
1/skˈaʊts ˈɑnɚ/
fixed phrase
informal
Promise that you are telling the truth
an expression used to say very strongly that you are telling the truth
Examples
- I didn’t touch your phone, Scout’s honor.
- Scout’s honor, I’ll have the report finished by tomorrow.
talent scout
1/tˈælənt skˈaʊt/
fixed phrase
Person who finds skilled people
A person whose job is to look for people with special skills, especially in sports or entertainment.
Examples
- A talent scout noticed him playing football and offered him a trial.
- A talent scout spotted her at a local show.
- The band was discovered by a famous talent scout.
- He dreams of becoming a talent scout for a big record label.