What does scoop mean?
Scoop is a versatile word whose core idea is taking up or gathering a portion of something. A scoop may be an ice-cream scoop, a rounded portion of food, or the action of lifting material with a scoop-shaped utensil. The phrase scoop up is also common for quickly collecting or acquiring things, including products, money, or people. In journalism, a scoop is an important piece of information or a news story obtained before competitors; to scoop a story means to publish such an exclusive report. These meanings share an association with acquiring something by lifting or taking it up. The verb can suggest speed or opportunism, especially in scoop up, while the journalistic sense often conveys timeliness, exclusivity, and investigative value. There is no major difference between standard British and American usage.
A scoop is a rounded portion of a soft or semisolid substance, a utensil for serving or lifting loose material, or an exclusive news report or piece of information.
"The bakery added another scoop of flour to the mixture."
In journalism, scoop denotes information or a story made public before competitors can report it.
To scoop is to lift or remove material with a scoop, to gather or acquire something, or to obtain an exclusive piece of news or information.
"The reporter scooped the story from several reliable sources."
Scoop up is especially common when describing the quick collection or acquisition of goods, money, or people.
The noun is countable when it refers to an implement, a portion, or an individual news story.
"The server brought two scoops of chocolate ice cream."
From a shovelful of ice cream to a breaking-news exclusive, a scoop means taking up material—or information—others have yet to get.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of scoop
The word entered Middle English from Middle Dutch scoep, a term for a shovel or scoop-like implement, and the verb developed from Middle Dutch scoepen. Its early senses referred to the implement and the action of taking up material with it. Dutch scheppen and German schöpfen are related Germanic forms with comparable meanings.
Related word forms
How scoop is actually used
The word is neutral in most contexts. In journalism, scoop commonly implies that the information or story was obtained exclusively. In scoop up, it can describe rapid collection or acquisition and may carry a slightly critical sense of taking more than one needs.
Easily confused with scoop
A scoop is a portion, utensil, action, or journalistic exclusive, whereas scope means the range or extent of something.