point

The reason for doing something, or what you hope to achieve by doing it.

• What is the point of this meeting?
• There is no point in waiting longer.
• The whole point is to save time.

How to use it: the point of something/doing something (What is the point of buying another car?); no point in doing something (There is no point in arguing.); the point is to do something (The point is to help people learn.)

Similar words: purpose, reason

Common phrases: point of something, no point, whole point

An exact place or a small dot showing a place.

• The two lines meet at this point.
• Mark three points on the map.
• We returned to our starting point.

How to use it: a point on something (Choose a point on the circle.)

Similar words: spot, location, position

Common phrases: meeting point, starting point, point on something

A unit used to count a score in a game or competition.

• Our team needs one more point.
• She scored ten points in the game.
• How many points did you win?

Common phrases: score a point, win a point, point for something

The narrow, sharp end of an object.

• The pencil has a sharp point.
• She touched the point of the needle.
• Both knives had broken points.

How to use it: the point of something (The point of the knife pierced the bag.)

Similar words: tip

Common phrases: sharp point, point of something, pencil point

The dot in a number that separates whole units from smaller parts.

• Put a point between the two digits.
• You forgot the decimal point.
• Moving the point changes the value.

Similar words: decimal point

Common phrases: decimal point, point between numbers

A mark at the end of a sentence, especially a full stop.

• The printer added a point after the sentence.
• A final point was missing from the text.
• The old guide calls a full stop a point.

Similar words: full stop, period

Common phrases: final point, terminal point, punctuation point

To show where something is by holding a finger or similar object towards it.

• She pointed at the door.
• Can you point to your house on the map?
• He pointed us toward the station.

How to use it: point at/to someone/something (The child pointed at a bird.); point someone toward something (She pointed me toward the exit.)

Similar words: indicate

Common phrases: point at something, point to something, point someone toward

To show a direction or draw attention to something.

• The arrow points north.
• All the signs point toward the station.
• The results point to a serious problem.

How to use it: point to/toward something (The evidence points to a different explanation.)

Similar words: indicate, show

Common phrases: point north, point to something, point toward something